Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (09:38): I rise to acknowledge some of the inspiring young leaders in my community, the young women of Al Siraat College in Epping. To mark International Women’s Day this past Tuesday I was delighted to host a group of senior students from Al Siraat College right here in Parliament. It was inspiring to see the passion in these young women, who raised insightful questions about what it means to be a woman in government and what they can do to make change in their own communities.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day was ‘Break the bias’. It calls on all of us to challenge the outdated assumptions and harmful stereotypes that act as barriers to women in the workplace, at home and in our community. These young women from Al Siraat College exemplify why that work is so important. These young women are smart, ambitious and tenacious. They are the leaders of tomorrow. As I spoke with them and was joined also by my parliamentary colleagues the member for Dandenong and the member for Yuroke—two powerful and inspiring women in their own right—I was reminded of the phrase, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. Forty-eight per cent of the Andrews government are women, and a majority of the cabinet are women. I am proud to stand as a member of a government that reflects the community that we serve.

As the students observed question time from up in the gallery, I hope that they saw opportunity reflected back at them. While it will have been their first time in the halls of Parliament, I feel confident that it will not be the last for them. So to the young women of Al Siraat College, I would like to say thank you for visiting, and I look forward to watching you achieve your dreams in a community and a world that may one day be free of bias. I hope we can all continue to take the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day— (Time expired)

Hansard Link: Al Siraat College