When asked to share their biggest fears for their seven kids, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet suggests his wife answer the question, to which Helen Perrottet is quick answer.
As a parent at home, Helen sees the issue of online bullying and social media affecting her kids. And as the wife of a politician, she fears the abuse politicians experience could result in “substandard” people putting their hand up to run.
The question came during a wide-ranging discussion between Women’s Agenda and the couple, addressing key concerns for women in the lead-up to this weekend’s state election in NSW. Those key issues include women’s safety, the growing rise in women experiencing homelessness, women’s health and representation, as well as Perrottet’s signature policy: The Kid’s Future Fund.
Both Helen and Dominic Perrottet are playing starring roles in the final leg of the election campaign, at a time when NSW residents are grappling with continued cost of living pressures, housing affordability and a massive debate regarding gambling reforms (and fallout from the powerful clubs lobby) – with Perrottet committing to a plan to make cashless gaming mandatory by 2028.
It also comes following significant debate regarding the lack of women represented in the Liberal party, and the loss of key female talent during the pre-selection process. The Premier previously declared the numbers were “not good enough” and that he was open to all ideas on where to go next; with women representing a third of the Liberal Party’s lower house candidates, behind Labor at 45 per cent.
Mirroring the same predicament the Morrison government faced at the federal election last year, the NSW coalition will face off against a number of high-profile, community and ‘teal’ female candidates as well as an array of competitors from both The Greens and Labor. The task ahead is significant.
Meanwhile, at home, the Perrottets have much on their collective plate. Juggling the chaos of working family life, they speak of nightly “musical beds” with their seven young kids, and doing what you can to make it work and get some sleep. “Last night we had four kids in the bed,” the Premier says. “I crashed while reading The Magic Finger.”
“I’m concerned about how women and men are treated. I’m concerned that how politicians are treated generally is just going to result in substandard people running for office.
Helen Perrottet
A ‘family friendly’ future?
Perrottet has repeatedly stated that he’s on a mission to make NSW the most family-friendly state in the country, spearheading major investments in early childhood education and his signature Kids Future Fund announced a fortnight ago. But what does “family friendly” actually mean in the work context?
“There is a lot more pressure today in terms of mums and dads in terms of balancing work and family life. So how do we make that more flexible and understanding of concerns and issues that we may have not otherwise appreciated decades ago,” he says.
He believes addressing flexibility and leave provisions is key, noting changes that have occurred across the NSW public sector during his time as both Treasurer and Premier, including increasing paid family and domestic violence leave to ten days.
“I see our role as the largest employer in the state as making sure we have an as flexible workplace as possible,” he said.
“It’s about being judged on outcomes, not based on time spent in the office. That’s been one of the biggest issue holding people back – that you’re judged by the hours you put in, not by the outcomes.”
Helen Perrottet on working family life: ‘I’ve got the busier job’
On succeeding Gladys Berejiklian as Premier in 2021, Perrottet was asked a question usually reserved for female leaders: “how can you manage to be Premier and also the parent of six children?” (their seventh child arrived in late 2021). He cited the “strong family” and “strong ministerial team” around him.
Clearly, Helen Perrottet is at the centre of that team.
Helen Perrottet was upfront about the load she takes at home. She spoke of once having reservations about being “barefoot and pregnant in the suburbs” but then approaching her thirties and realising that she did eventually want to settle down.
“I mean now – in terms of both of our jobs, I’ve got the more important job. I’ve got the harder job. I’ve got the busier job,” she said.
“I’m more focused on looking after the kids. I work part time, and I’m carrying more for the kids. But for me, I would not swap that for the world. I have had a bit of FOMO at times. But it’s awesome.”
Helen added that it happens with flexibility. Working from home, she can be there before and after school, and she gets added support from a babysitter on the two to three days she does paid work. The Premier added he does at times find her up at 4am working.
Early childhood education reform
A previously mentioned cornerstone of Perrottet’s “family friendly” mission is early childhood education: including legislating a $5 billion fund to support families in areas identified as “childcare deserts” (creating 47,000 places, and working with Labor Victorian Premier Dan Andrews on rolling out five free days of pre-school for every child in the year before school. He also has a promise to build 500 new preschools over the next four years.
He believes childcare, preschool and before and after school is not only essential for children’s development but also for giving parents more flexibility. “The nine to three school hours are really archaic and they came at a really different time. No one challenges it” he shares.
But given existing shortages of early childhood educators, as well as high rates of burnout, dissatisfaction and intentions to leave reported by educators, just how will these new placements be managed?
All industries are struggling to find staff at the moment, Perrottet acknowledges – but he knows that people “appreciate the importance of early childhood education educators”. Pointing to the shared equity housing scheme his government implemented, Perrottet says it’s crucially designed to “support frontline workers, including nurses, teachers, police officers, single women aged over 50 and early childhood educators,”
Will he advocate for higher wages? “Wages is not our responsibility but agree, yes [we can advocate it]. What I’ve seen from National Cabinet is states working together.”
Women’s homelessness and safety
There’s been a massive 48 per cent increase in homelessness for women, according to the last Census results when compared to the previous census. The figure jumps to a staggering 78 per cent for women aged 65 to 74.
As an October parliamentary inquiry into the issue heard, the face of homelessness in NSW is now very much that of an older woman.
Perrottet agrees he’s seeing this rising number of older women experiencing homelessness.
He also notes the complexities of the issue and its links to family and domestic violence.
His aim is to continue with programs that he believes have worked, but also explore new strategies – speaking to those affected, looking at how more support can be provided, and building more homes.
On programs that have worked, he cites the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, as well as significant investments into crisis accommodation (noting the close to half a billion dollars that were invested to double the number of refuges across the state).
The Premier also highlights programs that emerged during COVID, including refurbishing social homes as people experiencing homelessness moved into vacant hotels, to say that “what that shows me is that we can get this done.”
He also agreed that the current age of 80 set for priority housing (which is significantly higher than others states) is an issue.
The waitlist for social housing is growing in NSW, sitting at 51,031 for those approved for social housing and waiting for a home to become available, up 1000 from the year before.
Asked about this waitlist, Perrottet is matter of fact about the need for more social housing, pushing that his government has increased the construction of social houses to 9 per cent –doubling the national average of four per cent.
NSW Kids Future Fund
Perrottet announced his signature NSW Kids Future Fund during this election campaign.
The plan would see the NSW Government contribute an initial $400 to every child aged ten and under, who has a fund opened in their name this year. From there, the NSW Government will match contributions made by parents and grandparents of up to $400 every year. At 18, Australians are able to access the fund to use on either education or on buying a home.
The Fund has raised concerns about contributing to inequality, especially for lower-income and single-parent households – the majority of which are run by women – who may miss the government co contribution given they can’t make the investment themselves.
Asked about these inequality concerns, Perrottet noted a number of provisions that will make up for some of the gap.
“If you are a low-income family. We will automatically contribute $200 – and then do dollar for dollar after that. We are also capping it at $1000 a year,” he saya. The most a child could access at that time will be $49,000 (but after 18, those with the fund can continue to top it up themselves).
“What it does is for lower-income households, they have that automatic $200 … if you’re a higher income earner, for you to get full contribution it’s $8 a week, for a lower income household it’s $4 a week.
And when kids do go to access the fund, will it really achieve much in terms of a housing deposit in NSW? And what if education providers simply increase their prices?
On the former question, Perrottet said such a fund would be a start on a deposit. “If you leave school and you have nothing, then you have a no savings mentality,” he says. “But if you have a start, then you will work on it.”
On the latter question about education providers simply upping their costs as these funds become available to kids in eight or so years (a question from my nine-year-old son, who would be one of the first to be able to access such a fund if legislated), Perrottet said universities will continue to operate in a competitive environment, and kids don’t have to use it within NSW.
“But I also think the world that they’re going to live in is very different to now [in terms of education]. I think there will be a greater focus on retraining and re-skilling. Some people will use it for that, some will use it for a deposit.”
Online bullying
Asked about their concerns for their kids in the future, Helen Perrottet was quick to highlight social media and online bullying.
“The pressure from social media. The online bullying terrifies me,” she says. “If they spend extended periods online, I notice their moods. I know there are associated issues around these pressures, mental health concerns.”
The Premier shared his own experiences on the differences he witnesses around what people will say in person compared to what they’ll say online. He shares that some of the most abusive emails he’s received are typically from more senior people – but that if he has the opportunity to call and speak with them, they immediately back down.
“The problem for children now is that they are born into this. This is the environment. We’ve seen it firsthand with our kids. The impact it can have. They are under pressure at school, then they can’t escape it at home.”
Career swap?
Helen has previously said she advocates for what mothers need, and she played a key role in highlighting the pain of pregnancy loss, including opening up about the three miscarriages she has experienced, as the Liberal party announced a $2 million commitment to support parents through pregnancy loss and stillbirth.
So would she consider going into politics later on?
“Not after what I’ve seen this week – but, potentially,” she said.
Is the put off at all by the way that women in politics are still treated?
“I’m concerned about how women and men are treated. I’m concerned that how politicians are treated generally is just going to result in substandard people running for office.
“You ask about concerns for the future? That’s a concern. We’re just not going to attract quality people, if politicians are demonised.”
Women’s Agenda is expecting to interview NSW Labor leader Chris Minns late on Thursday.