When Jenny Macklin's changes to parenting payments were made a decade ago, she was roundly accused of turning a deaf ear to single mums.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The federal Labor minister made the startling statement, for which she soon after apologised, she could live on $35 a day - the amount some single parents were being asked to go on when their child turned eight.
Ten years on, the veteran Victorian MP is putting her heart into helping the Albanese government reform the welfare system to deliver greater support for the most vulnerable.
The former member for Jagajaga, who retired in 2019 after 22 years in parliament, has been made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the King's Birthday honours.
In expressing appreciation for the honour, she described her working life as a labour of love.
"I'm proud to have been a witness to and a participant in some of the big and lasting social reforms of this generation, while always understanding the work of political and social progress is never complete," she said.
Ms Macklin used her valedictory speech in 2019 to argue for an Indigenous voice, something about which she still remains passionate.
"I hope I've helped people feel like they belong, and I hope my time in public service has shown that there is a place in politics for people with big hearts," she said.
"Later this year, all of us will be asked to find it in our hearts to give our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens a place - and a voice - in our constitution.
"This can be a truly great national declaration of reconciliation, of belonging, and of love.
"I hope our country can grasp this opportunity, and I'm confident we will - because I know we have the heart for it."
Ms Macklin was elected to parliament in 1996 and went on to serve as deputy Labor leader to Kim Beazley.
She was minister for families, community services and Indigenous affairs for six years and minister for disability reform for two years.
"Every political party in Australia wishes they had a Jenny Macklin," then Labor leader Bill Shorten said at the time.
She was a key figure behind the national apology to the Stolen Generation and the 500,000 Forgotten Australians and child migrants who suffered abuse and neglect in out-of-home care.
As well, she was one of the architects of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and paid parental leave, and helped deliver the biggest increase to the aged pension in 100 years.
More recently, the Brisbane-born researcher has been something of a Labor government fixer, serving on the Universities Accord panel and overseeing the Victorian ALP branch following branch stacking allegations.
Other prominent politicians on the honours list include former Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore, ex-senators Trish Crossin and Ian Macdonald, former federal MP Maxine McKew and former Queensland government minister Ken Hayward.
Australian Associated Press
