Jenny Macklin

Last updated

The Honourable
Jenny Macklin
AC
Jenny Macklin (cropped).jpg
Macklin in 2013
Minister for Disability Reform
In office
14 December 2011 –18 September 2013
Macklin with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Tom Calma at the apology for the stolen generations in 2008 MacklinRudd.jpg
Macklin with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Tom Calma at the apology for the stolen generations in 2008

In 2007, Macklin became the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. In this capacity she oversaw the passage and implementation of Australia's first national Paid Parental Leave Scheme, the Closing the Gap framework to address the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, a historic rise in the pensions and a number of other significant changes to social policy and family support payments.

In 2011, Macklin was given the additional responsibility of Minister for Disability Reform, overseeing the design and implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Macklin was also a member of the Government's Expenditure Review Committee and Chair of the Government's Social Policy Committee.

Indigenous Affairs

Macklin was Minister for Indigenous Affairs throughout the Labor government's two terms in office. Macklin was instrumental in the Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples, delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in February 2008 and the implementation of the Close the Gap Framework, the first comprehensive strategy for tackling Indigenous disadvantage in Australia's history. This strategy saw record investment in health, education, housing, early childhood development and remote Indigenous service provision.

She has said that one of her most important achievements was to take the politics out of Indigenous affairs and destroy the toxic division between "symbols" and "practical" change. On 23 November 2011, the Stronger Futures Policy legislation was introduced by Macklin to address key issues such as unemployment, school attendance, alcohol abuse, child protection, safety, housing and land reforms in the Northern Territory.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

On 10 August 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister Macklin announced the Labor government's support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) a major social policy reform designed to ensure that people with disability received the care and support they need.

The rollout of the NDIS commenced in 2013 at four launch sites around Australia, with full rollout to be completed in 2019. Macklin was instrumental in the success of negotiations with states and territories, which resulted in a nationwide agreement on the NDIS. When fully completed in 2019 the NDIS is expected to cover around 460,000 Australians with disability.

Macklin was the Minister was responsible for the design and implementation of Australia's first national paid parental leave scheme. Prior to its launch on 1 January 2011, Australia was one of two developed countries without a national paid parental leave scheme. The scheme provides primary care givers with 18 weeks paid parental leave paid at the national minimum wage. In the six years since the scheme was launched more than 700,000 Australian families have accessed paid parental leave.

An independent review of the scheme in 2014 found that more than 75 per cent of parents accessing paid parental leave were on incomes of less than $70,000 a year. In the 2015 Budget the Abbott government announced a measure to end so called "double dipping" of paid parental leave by restricting 80,000 new parents from accessing both employer and government paid parental leave schemes. The use of the term provoked widespread condemnation from women's groups and some employers. Macklin led Labor's opposition to the Liberal government's cuts to paid parental leave, which have failed to pass the Parliament.

Dad and Partner Pay

The introduction of Dad and Partner Pay (DAPP) on 1 January 2013, established two weeks paid leave to fathers and partners to help them take time off work to support new mothers in their caring role and be involved in the care of their newborn baby. This was another social policy reform that Macklin spearheaded during her time as Minister. An independent report conducted by the University of Queensland in 2014 found that DAPP reduced the barriers to fathers taking leave following a birth.

Apology to Forgotten Australians

Macklin was also the steward for the national apology to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants, in her capacity as Families Minister. Prime Minister Rudd gave the apology on 16 November 2009 on behalf of the Australian Government to over half a million children who were taken from their families and placed in institutions where they were often victims of abuse. Macklin said the apology demonstrated "the shared resolve to make sure the abuse and neglect never happens again".

Opposition (2013–2019)

Macklin in 2013 Jenny Macklin 2013 (cropped).jpg
Macklin in 2013

Following the ALP's defeat at the 2013 federal election, Macklin endorsed Anthony Albanese for the leadership of the party. [10] Albanese was defeated by Bill Shorten in the leadership vote. Macklin was included in Shorten's shadow ministry and retained her place until announcing her retirement, holding the portfolios of families and payments (2013–2016), disability reform (2013–2016) and families and social services (2016–2018). [1]

Macklin announced her retirement from politics on 6 July 2018, effective at the 2019 federal election. [11]

Later activities

In June 2020, Macklin and former Victorian Labor Premier Steve Bracks were appointed as administrators of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party by the party's National Executive until early 2021, after allegations of branch-stacking by Victorian minister Adem Somyurek were revealed. The pair will review the state party's operations and provide detailed recommendations to tackle the issue of branch-stacking within the party. [12]

In 2022, Macklin was appointed as chair of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, a panel which publishes yearly recommendations to government on the adequacy of welfare payments. [13] [14] Macklin was also appointed to the Australian University Accords panel in 2022 by education minister Jason Clare. The panel published a final report in 2024 recommending reforms to Australia's higher education system. [15]

Honours

Macklin was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to social welfare, particularly the introduction of paid parental leave and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and to the Indigenous community". [16]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hon Jenny Macklin MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Skelton, Russell (3 April 2010). "Full steam ahead". The Age. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "Centenary of Wangaratta High School". Australian Government. 7 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Bevege, Margaret; James, Margaret; Shute, Carmel (1982). Worth her Salt: Women at Work in Australia. Sydney: Hale & Iremonger. p. xii.
  5. ↑ "Government health review 'a waste'". The Canberra Times. 7 October 1991. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Aborigines in urgent need of health care: Richardson". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "George to contest for Senate". The Canberra Times. 5 December 1994. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Uphill battle of breaking into politics and business". The Canberra Times. 22 December 1994. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Topsfield, Jewel (5 December 2006). "Factions left behind in leadership vote". The Age. Canberra. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Senior Labor MP Jenny Macklin backs Anthony Albanese for Labor leadership". The Age. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Veteran Labor MP Jenny Macklin announces retirement after 22-year career". ABC News. 6 July 2018. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "Labor Party's national executive pledges to clean up troubled Victoria branch". ABC News. 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Members appointed to Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee". Treasury.gov.au. 16 December 2022.
  14. ↑ Kehoe, JOhn (27 November 2022). "Labor to face pressure to increase JobSeeker under IR horse-trading". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Ireland, Judith (25 February 2024). "Universities Accord final report: what is it, and what does it recommend?". The Conversatioon.
  16. ↑ "King's Birthday 2023 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Families, Community
Services and Indigenous Affairs
2007–2013		Succeeded by
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Jagajaga
1996–2019		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party
2001–2006		Succeeded by
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