Katy Gallagher: Leading accountability
“Politics has been an extension of the community work I was involved in before I got elected.”
Almost 100 years ago, Edith Cowan became the first woman elected to an Australian parliament, in March 1921.
In Her Seat is asking as many currently serving female politicians as we can how they view gender equality, politics and their impact.
This is a non-partisan project that is soliciting contributions from women in all parties, or none at all, in every parliament.
Katy Gallagher is a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory. She previously served in the Territory’s Legislative Assembly as Treasurer, Deputy Chief Minister and eventually as Chief Minister.
Before political office, Katy was a social worker, primarily working with people with disabilities. Later she worked for the Community and Public Sector Union.
Katy was first elected in 2001 to the Territory’s Legislative Assembly and was appointed a minister in 2002, taking on progressively more senior roles. After becoming Chief Minister in 2011 she then led the government to an election in 2012, winning a fourth term for the party.
Katy resigned in 2014 to then assume a Senate seat in 2015.
In Federal Parliament Katy has held a series of shadow portfolios, and is currently the Shadow Minister for Finance and the Public Service. She is also the Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.
In 2020 she became the Chair of the Select Committee on COVID-19, the key parliamentary oversight body of the government’s response to the pandemic.
What does gender equality mean to you?
It’s about a world where women and men are treated equally, have equal opportunity and there is no discrimination based on gender.
During my career I have been the only woman in my workplace and trying to improve that was the main reason I initially stood for political office in 2001 when there were no Labor women in the ACT Assembly.
Nineteen years later, and after a lot of hard work the ACT Labor caucus is over 50% women.
Achieving gender equality will require targets, campaigns, resources and strong role models across every area of community life.
Which female politicians have inspired or encouraged you?
Too many to name in the Labor party!
I have been supported and encouraged by Labor giants Joan Kirner and Susan Ryan who both told me as a young single mother thinking about a possible career in politics that it was my responsibility to stand for election! They didn’t even see it as a choice. I was really thankful for their confidence in me.
I deeply respect all the women members of parliament that went before me. Politics is a very male-dominated environment — designed by men for men.
It’s changing slowly with the more women that are being elected but I can only imagine how difficult it would have been for women in previous parliaments since federation.
In the Federal Labor 47% of the caucus are women and they are all fabulous and inspiring women to work with.
What inspired you to serve your community?
I grew up in a house where contributing to your local community was part of normal life.
From a young age I was involved in youth centres, community services and when I had my first child, I got involved in community-based childcare services.
Before I was elected in 2001, I never made a conscious decision to be a politician.
I stood for election because I wanted more women in the ACT parliament.
I didn’t expect to win but I wanted to make sure we had a lot of women candidates in the hope that at least one of us would get elected. In the end I was one of two who was.
For me politics has been an extension of the community work I was involved in before I got elected. It’s about representing your community to the best of your ability. It’s very rewarding.
What are the most important contributions you are making in Parliament?
I’m currently chairing the Select Committee on COVID-19, holding the Morrison Government to account and ensuring that this pandemic is being handled with honesty, integrity and transparency.
I feel privileged to get to chair a committee that is working to ensure all Australians are receiving the support that they need and deserve during this difficult time.
Being a Senator in the Federal Parliament and representing the ACT in the Senate is an enormous privilege and its one that I never take for granted.
What is next for gender equality in politics?
Making sure women are represented equally in every aspect of political life and there is still a lot of hard work to do to get there.
Equally important is continuing the work to ensure we are able to improve on the level of First Nations representation and building a parliament that is a really true representation of our diverse and multicultural country.
In Her Seat interviews can be accessed here
