When women do well, we all do well. When women are represented in government, policies are better designed to improve lives and address the unique challenges women face in our communities. The Albanese government is an example of this inaction, and that didn't happen by chance. It happened because Labor recognised that, when women are at the table, policy outcomes improve everyone's lives. Some perfect examples of this are Labor's 26 weeks of paid parental leave with super on top, 10 days of paid family violence leave and endometriosis clinics right across the nation.
This principle is also driving action in my electorate of Corangamite. A local group, Women in Local Democracy, or WILD, is leading the charge to improve gender representation in our councils. This goal is ambitious and absolutely necessary to achieve gender parity by the 2028 local government elections. I'm honoured to be the patron of WILD and to work alongside the extraordinary women leading this effort, including Jenny Wells, a tireless advocate who recently stepped down as president, and Kate Lockhart, who brings great energy and vision to the role.
Recently, I joined Jenny, Kate and many others in Geelong for the inaugural Empowering Women 50/50 Network oration, delivered by Victoria's first gender equity commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent. I want to thank Dr Vincent for her leadership and for her powerful address. That night was a celebration of how far we've come and a rallying call for the work that still lies ahead.
We know gender equality doesn't just happen by accident. It takes leadership, commitment and collective action, and we are making progress. Australia has just achieved its highest ever ranking in the World Economic Forum's gender gap index. We're now sitting 13th out of 148 countries. That is up 11 places. It reflects the impact of deliberate sustained action in areas like political empowerment and economic participation and education. Federally, we now have the highest proportion of women in government, 56 per cent of government members, and, for the first time, we have a majority of women in cabinet.
These milestones matter, not just symbolically but because they help deliver better, fairer outcomes for all Australians. That's why I'll continue working with WILD and the Empowering Women 50/50 Network to grow their reach, strengthen community and champion diversity across our local government, from Surf Coast to Queenscliff, from Golden Plains to Kalka Way to Greater Geelong. This is an ambition worth fighting for, and together, I know we'll get there.
