Speech delivered on 6 march 2026 at Admiralty House in Sydney.

Aunty Norma, thank you for your Acknowledgement of Country, and thank you for being here with us today. I’m so thrilled that you were happy to offer the Welcome to Country and, as always, to be so generous with us — not just with Aboriginal culture, but with the stories and history you carry as an elder.

We are on Cammeraygal land, and I pay my respects to their Elders past and present. We look across the water to Gadigal land, so I acknowledge their Elders too, and all the Eora people of Sydney and surrounds. And I extend that respect to all First Nations people who are here with us this afternoon.

Welcome to Admiralty House for this early celebration of International Women’s Day.

Many of you are here for the first time — which I find exciting — and as you move around the house and gardens, you’ll see beautiful art, very often by women. In this room alone, Grace Cossington Smith and Mrs Yunupingu are in conversation across 90 years, each painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge from her own perspective. One was sitting in The Rocks watching the Bridge being built; the other was much higher in the sky in a Sydney hotel in the 1990s, painting that same bridge on bark. Across the house you’ll find works from Mornington Island to the west and south — stories held in colour, canvas, and wood.

This is a place of care, peace, and belonging — a place where everyone is welcome, and where we aim to reflect the stories of modern Australia through the art and artefacts we share, the people we bring together, and the conversations we make space for.

Today is one of those conversations. In fact, it is many conversations — because we have almost 30 different organisations represented here. You each have your own particular expertise and focus, and I am proud to be Patron of every one of you. Today gives us the chance to amplify one another’s work, rather than celebrate separately. It is the second time we have brought patronages together in this way, and already we are seeing the connections, governance ideas and shared opportunities that emerge when people meet across fields.

The breadth in this room is remarkable:

• Health care, aged care, disability care
• Mental health care and suicide prevention
• Music, education, civics, the environment
• Defence, emergency services
• Mothering, fathering, youth engagement
• And, of course, many of you who work directly with women and girls:  
  • Women’s safety and wellbeing
  • Financial independence and personal empowerment
  • Women in sport
  • Women refugees, women across faiths, women volunteers

Today is for you to meet each other — and for me to say thank you for what you do every single day.

As your Governor-General, I have the privilege of meeting Australian women and girls where they live, work, and gather. I see both the fine grain of their lives and, when I step back, the panoramic view of the nation. Often in the gap between those two views lies the space where your organisations are working — filling needs that policy sometimes has not yet recognised.

Just last week here at Admiralty House, we launched Bernadette Black and Dr Kate Harrison Brennan’s National Primary Prevention Framework to address childhood disadvantage. A few days later, we celebrated extraordinary new research commissioned by She Gives on the impact and importance of women’s philanthropy in Australia. Billions of dollars now controlled by women, increasingly directed to women and girls, and to underfunded causes.

It was especially meaningful that Dame Quentin Bryce — the first woman to serve as Governor-General — was with us for both events. And this morning, in a lovely coincidence, I was at The Social Outfit being fitted for an event and learned that the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister had visited them earlier in the week. The Social Outfit has just celebrated 10 years, supporting migrant women through skills, sustainability, and style — and I’m wearing them today.

I meet extraordinary women everywhere: families, young people, academics, scholars, older women entering care, women navigating the health system, women working across our cities and remote communities. Women who are working to advance the rights of girls and women locally and globally — to get the balance right.

And I also meet many, many men who stand alongside us as allies. To the steadfast, supportive, generous men who are here today: thank you. You are an important part of this story. As I sometimes say: welcome to our world.

Across justice, housing, employment, education, safety, health, wellbeing, social connection and security, Australian women are striving to improve circumstances for themselves and for others.

But there is one area where we continue to fall short: women’s recognition within the honours and awards system.

Women are nominated at much lower rates than men — and because our system relies entirely on community nomination, this gap persists. It isn’t about merit; it’s about visibility, networks, and sometimes humility. So I ask you: look around at the remarkable women you know and nominate them. It is a simple online process and an enormously powerful one. I would love to see true balance in our honours system.

Some of you here have received such honours. In September, I had the privilege of investing Helen Dalley Fisher with her AM, recognising her significant service to women through gender equity and equality advocacy and to the law. In a few moments, she will share her reflections on what recognising women can mean.

As Patron of UN Women Australia, I am proud of this year’s theme: Balance the Scales. We all know the imbalances that remain; they are part of our daily lives. International Women’s Day gives us a moment to commit to our own role in achieving gender equality.

Today, the Office for Women released its annual Status of Women Report Card. It covers gender violence, women’s health, paid and unpaid care, economic security, and women in leadership. Over time, we have seen improvements in the gender pay gap and the number of women in executive roles. But the numbers of women experiencing violence and sexual violence remain stubbornly and seriously high:

• Half of all women have experienced sexual harassment
• One in three has experienced physical violence since age 15
• One in five has experienced sexual violence since age 15
• And on average, an Australian woman is killed by a partner or former partner every nine to ten days

Gender-based violence is widespread. But it is preventable. Many of you in this room are working to address it.

One group making a powerful contribution is The Man Cave. Over 11 years, they have reached more than 100,000 boys with programs on healthy masculinity and respectful relationships. After a program:

• 91% of boys say they want to be a man who treats others with care and respect
• 84% feel empowered to build and maintain healthy relationships

This work is vital if we are to address violence at its roots, and build communities grounded in respect and care.

There is good news in today’s Report Card, too:

• Australia is now ranked 13th globally for gender equality — our highest score ever, up from 43rd in 2022
• The national gender pay gap is continuing to narrow
• Dads are spending more time with their kids: 20% of primarycarer parental leave recipients in medium and large private sector employers are men
• Men are entering the aged and disability care workforce at increasing rates

When I was sworn in as your GovernorGeneral, I promised to put care, kindness and respect at the centre of everything I do. Care for each other, for those who care for others, for our continent, and for the way we discuss the issues of our time — without rancour or judgement. I also promised to be modern, visible and optimistic, reflecting the nation to itself in all its light and shade.

Some people think care is soft. But all of you know care is hard. It requires showing up again and again. It is rigorous and accountable. It is working for something larger than yourself — building a nation defined by strength, safety, equality, unity and success.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, I thank you for the care you bring to your work, for your optimism, compassion and respect, and for your determination to bring light to our community.

I also want to thank my team — the team who make today possible, and who teach me every day what it means to show up with care. Thank you to Natalie, Nicole, Tiffany, Annika, Saesha, Lynette, Jane and Sarah.

Thank you — and happy International Women’s Day.

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