Gender on the political agenda

The dust is settling from the election, and Labor’s resounding win, which gives Albanese’s government a huge mandate to deliver on its election promises.   

Under Peter Dutton, the opposition’s policies around gender equity, culture wars, and nuclear and gas energy proved unpopular. The Liberals didn’t propose any policy packages aimed at improving gender equity, which may have alienated many women voters. Nor did it offer any policies to help tackle climate change – although neither major party campaigned on climate, despite it remaining an election issue, particularly with younger voters. While analysts continue to gather insights about what the election says about Australia’s values and goals, here’s what Labor’s win means for gender equality and for your money.  

As we shared following last month’s budget, most of us will be enjoying a tax break under Labor’s pledge, but behind the headlines Labor also promised a $793 million five-year investment in women’s health with menopause and endometriosis treatments in the spotlight. Menopause and menstrual symptoms can impact women’s retirement savings via earlier retirement and unpaid leave.  

As part of its ‘Commitment to Women’ policy package, the Albanese government has pledged to act decisively on the issue of domestic violence and financial abuse, which also impact the gender super gap. It plans to close loopholes that allow perpetrators to access their victims’ super, in response to the senate committee that Verve Super submitted recommendations to last year - which we think is a great result. But, as Verve co-founder Christina Hobbs told SBS news*, this commitment must be the beginning, not the end.   

"This is useful legislative change. But we need legislation that really does protect victims," she said.  

And Labor has also pledged to address the gender pay gap – a sticky systemic problem that continues to see women not only earn less, but retire with less savings. There are many deep-rooted reasons for this, from the devaluation of ‘women’s work’ to parenthood, health and menopause issues and financial abuse. At the current rate of progress it’ll take more than a century for these disparities to disappear – and we won’t stop fighting to close the gap. But there are few useful new government policies that seek to address some of the issues and level up women’s economic security and retirement incomes.   

From 1 July 2025, the government will pay superannuation on government paid parental leave (PPL), helping narrow the super gap and remove barriers to men taking more parental leave.  

Labor has also legislated universal access to early years childcare three days a week, from January 2026, which they estimate will benefit 100,000 families. Previously, parents have had to be working to access government-funded childcare, creating a catch-22 in which many parents can’t access work without childcare, and vice versa.  

There’s still room for improvement - and a long way to go in terms of parenthood’s impact on women’s caring responsibilities and career progression - but this should lend some support to women’s capacity to earn and financial security.  

At Verve Super, we don’t endorse any particular party – but we do support building a better world for women, gender-diverse people and the planet.  

So no matter who’s in charge, we’ll keep pushing for policies that promote financial equality and socioeconomic equity between genders. There’s still a long way to go. But progress is never won freely – it’s won by people who work together and refuse to be silent. Our vision - for a future where gender equity is not negotiable - is bigger than one election. Together, we will keep moving forward.