A lack of leadership from Government is hindering progress on pay equity, a Senate Inquiry heard today. The inquiry into gender segregation in the workplace and its impact on women's economic equality heard evidence from key unions and employer organisations including the Australian Council of Trade Unions, National Foundation for Australian Women, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Services Union. 

If you were a woman working in Australia in the 1960s, you earned 25 percent less than a man. It wasn't just discrimination -- it was the law. A lot has changed since then. 

Senator McAllister met with the Pacific Calling Partnership, a coalition of voices from the Pacific Islands, calling for action on climate change. 

RECENTLY

1. This week in the Senate I spoke about the Turnbull Government’s attacks on 1800 RESPECT - the national sexual assault and domestic and family violence counselling service.

I wanted to make a few remarks about the report that was handed down yesterday by the Privileges Committee in the Senate. The report has found that in executing raids, during an election, in the offices of a sitting Senator, Senator Conroy, to recover documents in relation to the NBN, there was improper interference in the functions of the Parliament. 

I rise to speak about the 1800RESPECT service because over the past few months there has been a real concern about this service. This is what happens when something is not quite right, because we have seen media coverage, we have online petitions, we have social media advocacy and the union has been speaking out and has been active.

RECENTLY

1. This week I spoke in the Senate about the urgent need to address housing affordability.

Senator Jenny McAllister spoke at a renewable energy forum about the lessons we have learnt from the 'climate wars' and what we must do to build a renewable future. 

Labor has called for a Senate inquiry into the fraught Community Development Program, with the support of the Greens. Communities across the Northern Territory and Western Australia have consistently told us that this system leaves people in more debt, without food to feed their families, in rental arrears and feeling hopeless, struggling with an infuriating bureaucratic reporting process. 

Last night, in the dead of night, at around midnight, the Senate passed a package of cuts that strips away almost two billion dollars from Australian families in the coming years. These are not families that can afford to have this money taken away from them. These are not well-off families.