I was brought up to believe that entering public office should be one of the highest callings and that being able to direct your energies and abilities to the betterment of your state or your country is one of the greatest contributions of all. And I have always had an intense conviction that individuals can make a difference to the life of their times.
If we are to create a successful society for the future, a ‘society for all ages’ in which
everyone has a place and to which everyone can contribute, then the widest cross-section of
our community has to be involved in shaping policy to this end.
The strongest initiative that government can take to ensure Australia is prepared for
population ageing, is to maintain a strong economy, and a secure nation.
…women can't have it all. They can have plenty of choices, but at the end of the day, they choose something which means they can't have something else… I feel incredibly lucky that I've had the kind of career that is so consuming that I don't feel I have a void in my life.
I believe that as more women around the world take on leadership positions – in their communities, countries, across continents – the impact of female leadership will be profound… And let’s face it, including women in leadership teams adds a diversity of attitudes, outlooks and experience. And greater diversity means the team is more likely to come up with new ideas, more creative approaches, and more flexible thinking and responses to challenges.
I'm a great supporter of free speech, but there are limitations on free speech. There are legal limitations on it, and we're trying to strike a balance in this country. But if someone is promoting (terrorism)… we want to make that an offence in Australia.
We are increasingly recognising and accepting, respecting and celebrating, our cultural diversity.
Synergy and serendipity often play a big part in medical and scientific advances.