Monday, October 26, 2026
Thanks to today’s partner FemTech
“Some say there are no friends in politics, but they are wrong.”
Zali Steggall could barely get the line out this morning, with Parliament resuming one week after the alleged attack on her friend and colleague Helen Haines.
The women of the crossbench carried the chamber via their calls for kindness, and for those in and out of the room to do better, with Dr Monique Ryan sharing how quickly the country reverted to partisan brawling after briefly uniting.
Haines’ seat will remain empty until her return, with an orange cockatoo placed to symbolise the community the member for Indi regularly celebrates.
A new hunger report is out today with a line that should follow us all week: one in three households experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, up 100,000 on last year. The issue is affecting almost 60% of single-parent households.
In Queensland, Amanda Stoker is the new minister for child safety and preventing domestic and family violence. She was once the Morrison Government’s assistant minister for women, and her record on women’s rights isn’t great.
Finally, these are the three reforms that could stop pregnancy discrimination from pushing women out of the workforce – and include Australia’s productivity in the process.
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Editor in Chief & Co-Founder
The Key Quote
Helen, I’ve had so many chats with you sitting in this chamber. You’re the matriarch of the crossbench, always a voice for respectful political debate. We have heard your words loud and clear: kindness over hate. It’s time to diffuse the tension and consider how our words are being received by others in the community beyond this place.
Zali Steggall
Federal MP Zali Steggall has fought back tears while paying tribute to her colleague and friend Helen Haines, as parliament returns for the first time since the independent MP for Indi was allegedly attacked. Steggall, the independent Member for Warringah, has sat alongside Haines in the House of Representatives since the pair were elected "in the class of 2019". Other tributes are expected to roll in from other MPs today.
On Women's Agenda Today
How much autonomy do women actually have when giving birth?
Women giving birth have the right to make informed decisions about their care, refuse unwanted interventions and be treated with respect. Read more +
‘It’s pretty toxic… but just a little, I want to be like that’: what young men think of manosphere content
How young men navigate the manosphere reveals why misogyny persists online, even when they recognise it can harm themselves and others. Read more +
NSW government backtracks on gender-neutral breastfeeding policy after Kellie Sloane criticism
NSW Premier Chris Minns has reversed gender-neutral language changes made to NSW parliament’s employee breastfeeding policy. Read more +
Victoria doubles funding for women-founded startups with $10 million Alice Anderson Fund boost
The Victorian government will put a further $10 million into the Alice Anderson Fund, which backs women-founded startups. Read more +
Pregnancy discrimination is costing Australia. Three reforms could help change that.
Pregnancy discrimination continues to push women out of work, prompting calls for stronger penalties, faster justice and clearer workplace rights. Read more +
The Key Figure
60%
The amount of single-parent households that faced food insecurity in the last year, according to the Foodbank Hunger Report 2026, published today. 45% of all households with children in Australia also reported food insecurity. “We’re hearing of parents going without just to make sure their children can eat. This is unacceptable and we must do something about it,” said Kylea Tink, Foodbank CEO.
The win
Perth woman Esther Fischer has turned the record books upside down, becoming the world's oldest person to perform a handstand
To break the world record, the 75-year-old retiree had to hold the stance for at least 15 seconds with no assistance. On August 31, she completely smashed the previous record, holding her handstand for 55 seconds. The gym where Ms Fischer has been a member introduced a longevity class, and owner Jacob Moffitt said the class is about helping people 60 and over get strong, telling the ABC, "[It improves] their quality of movement and their quality of life," he said. Esther has described her record as “Pretty cool.”
On The Women's Agenda Podcast
Check out our weekly podcast
We unpack the week that was, inspired by the grace and dignity of Dr Helen Haines, her husband Phil Haines and Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Plus, our conversation with Dr Kayla Steele, a Clinical Psychologist for UNSW at the Black Dog Institute, and why "overwhelm" describes much of the mood of women in Australia. Kayla discusses the value of movement, connection, and friendship on mental health, and also why the Black Dog Institute and UNSW are studying the impact of IVF on mental health.
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