Senator Maria Kovacic
Shadow Assistant Minister for Women
Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Deregulation
STATEMENT
SHADOW MINISTRY
I am honoured to have been appointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Deregulation, and reappointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Women.
Australia’s productivity crisis is a national crisis that is choking economic growth. It is a direct and significant cause of the decline in the standard of living. Non-essential red and green tape are weighing down families and small businesses. It is no wonder that no matter how hard Australians work, particularly young Australians, they just can’t seem to get ahead. This government has added thousands of extra regulations, meaning billions more in compliance costs just for businesses to operate. Productivity should be a priority, not an afterthought. A Coalition Government will tackle productivity, not roll over for vested interests and the nanny-state.
Continuing in the role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Women, I am committed to advancing structural reform that delivers real choice for Australian women. Today, Australian women earn just 79 cents for every dollar earnt by Australian men; a gap of more than $28,000 a year. Meanwhile, 2024 was the worst year on record for intimate partner homicide, highlighting the failure of systems that continue to produce poor outcomes despite major investment. Real empowerment begins with financial independence. When women are economically secure, they have the freedom to pursue opportunity, leave unsafe situations, and shape their own futures. If we are serious about equality and ending violence against women, we must be serious about reform that strengthens workforce participation, financial security and leadership, and gives Australian women genuine authorship over their lives.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition, Angus Taylor, for the confidence he has placed in me, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of our Coalition team as we hold the Albanese Labor Government to account and deliver a compelling policy platform to the Australian people at the next election.