The outcome of Australia’s 2025 federal election presents new opportunities for progress on global health and gender equality.
With a stronger mandate and increased parliamentary numbers, the Albanese Government is well placed to advance a more values-driven approach to international engagement — one that puts human rights, equity, and fairness at the centre.
While international development wasn’t a headline campaign issue, the result reflects steady public support — especially among younger Australians — for a compassionate and principled foreign policy. This includes support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR): access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal healthcare, and other essential services.
These services save lives, support healthier communities, and improve gender equality — particularly in low-income and crisis-affected settings. Australia has played a meaningful role in this work for decades, and the 2025 election result provides a chance to continue that leadership.
Labor has kept its commitment to progressively increase the aid budget over time. There is also discussion about creating a dedicated Minister for International Development, which could bring stronger coordination and visibility to Australia’s aid efforts — including SRHR.
There are important next steps in Parliament too. The Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (APGPD) plays a vital role in building cross-party support for global health, gender equality and rights. As the new Parliament begins its work, encouraging incoming members to join the APGPD will be key to maintaining momentum and ensuring these issues remain firmly on the agenda.
Looking further ahead, Australia’s likely role as host of the COP31 climate summit in 2026 opens up a critical opportunity to better integrate health and gender equity into climate responses — particularly across the Pacific region, where the connections between environmental vulnerability, gender, and health are stark.
And finally, Australia’s diplomatic and ambassadorial appointments in the coming months will help shape how our values are projected on the global stage. Strong leadership in those roles — especially on gender and health — will ensure Australia continues to speak up for reproductive rights and global health in increasingly complex and contested spaces.
This next chapter holds promise — and Australians will be watching to see that it’s guided by fairness, care, and a commitment to improving lives around the world.
