13 August 2026

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Thanks to today’s partner Mums Matter

$457.5 million. That’s how much the federal government has allocated to frontline women’s safety services over the last 3.5 years.

You can’t tell us we’re in a “national crisis” and then spend peanuts trying to fix it.

Especially, when you’re willing to spend $2.5 billion in a bilateral agreement with the NSW gov (announced today) to save an aluminium smelter in Tomago that's majority-owned by minerals giant Rio Tinto.

Seriously? Angela Priestley reports.

Meanwhile, the tally of women murdered this year continues to climb. A First Nations woman was allegedly killed by her ex-partner south of Brisbane on Wednesday, with reports now revealed that she had contacted police about her fears just days before.

And, Australia’s childcare crisis is often framed as a problem of cost and availability, but Dr Fiona McDonald argues there is a deeper issue of the market model underpinning the system itself. Childcare deserts continue to leave families without access, while public money flows to for-profit providers.

Finally, what happens when we tell young people they need to learn about democracy but aren’t yet allowed to participate in it? A fat lot of frustration. When kids are the ones leading the charge on a number of issues like climate action, it might be time for a system rethink.

A reminder! There’s still time to grab tickets to Women’s Agenda’s 2026 Women’s Health & Wellbeing Summit on September 1^st in Sydney. Excellent speakers, inspiring sessions and the chance to network (as well as a truly epic gift bag). Gather your team. You won’t want to miss out.

Tarla Lambert-Patel
Editor in Chief & Co Founder

The Key Quote

This sitting fortnight, Parliament will debate legislation the Albanese government has proposed to tackle problem gambling. The measures are woeful and weak.

Zali Steggall

Independent MP Zali Steggall writes today that as gambling losses have surged, governments have delayed reform and allowed online sports betting to expand largely unchecked.

On Women's Agenda Today

Women silenced: Online abuse is harming Australia’s democracy

Women for Election’s suvey of women running for office and those already in office shows the extent and harm of online abuse. It should be raising alarms about how healthy our democracy actually is. Read more +

Zali Steggall: Australians are being targeted by a 24/7 gambling machine, and the Albanese government is complicit

Gambling laws need stronger protections, tougher regulation and less industry influence to reduce gambling harm across Australia, writes Independent MP Zali Steggall. Read more +

‘You don’t need millions. You need structure’: Cissy Ma wants more women to buy businesses

Cissy Ma left the corporate world with a mission to help aspiring entrepreneurs access the opportunities that big companies take for granted. Read more +

National crisis? Just $457.5 million over 3.5 years allocated to frontline women’s safety services

Now compare that to the $2.5 billion the Federal and NSW Governments just announced they’ll spend on bailing out a Rio Tinto aluminium smelter. Read more +

Childcare was never meant to be a luxury. So why are we still treating it like a market?

Australia’s childcare system is leaving gaps for families, while profit-driven services struggle to meet the needs of communities. Read more +

The Key Figure

5 years

It’s now been 5 years since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. New UN Women data released today reveals that half of Afghan women leave home only once or twice a month because of the severe restrictions on their movement.

The win

Peggy Flanagan wins Democratic primary for US Senate

Penny Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and a candidate considered to be a ‘progressive’, has won a Democratic primary race for the US senate. Her win is the latest progressive campaign to sweep to victory.

On The Women's Agenda Podcast

Check out our weekly podcast

Special guest Amy Remeikis joins the podcast! The journalist and commentator has just published her new book Screw Nice, and she's here to share why continuing the expected pleasantries is not getting us anywhere. Amy also touches on the other book she published this year (yes, she's written two), Where It All Went Wrong: The Case Against John Howard.

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