On Thursday 26 of February the APGPD hosted an urgent online briefing on the expansion of the Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy.  Beth Schlachter, Global Senior Director for External Relations and Advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, outlined how new US policies and bilateral ‘global health compacts’ are driving sweeping restrictions across global health, including HIV treatment, supply chains, humanitarian response and sexual and reproductive health services and education programs.

Participants heard that these developments are creating significant confusion, secrecy and risks for partner governments and civil society, including in the Asia–Pacific. Governments invited to sign these compacts will need to carefully investigate the terms and the likely impacts on their citizens as they may pose a significant risk of restricting rights and declining health outcomes, such as increased rates of HIV transmission (including in newborns), a rise in poor reproductive and maternal health indicators and limitations in humanitarian and development assistance. The session generated strong interest from parliamentarians and advisers in understanding the implications for Australia’s regional partnerships and how existing investments can support affected partners.

Count us in! How inclusive data can accelerate action on gender equality

On Wednesday 11 March, MPs and members of the APGPD joined Equality Insights at Parliament House for an International Women’s Day briefing focused on the importance of inclusive, gender‑sensitive data for effective and equitable policymaking.

The session, “Count Us In: How Inclusive Data Builds Trust, Strengthens Democracy and Accelerates Action on Gender Equality,” examined how individual‑level data can reveal inequalities that household‑level measures often obscure, and how stronger evidence supports democratic engagement, accountability and better policy outcomes. Continue Reading..

Women Deliver 2026: High-Level Ministerial and Parliamentary Forum

On 27 April 2026, parliamentarians and ministers from across Australia, Asia and the Pacific gathered in Melbourne for the High-Level Parliamentary Forum, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Driving Equality, Ensuring Justice, held as a pre-conference event for Women Deliver 2026. Co-hosted by the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Population and Development and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), the Forum reaffirmed sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental to gender equality, human rights and sustainable development. Continue Reading…

Protecting Health, Safety and Dignity: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and HIV Among Sex Workers in Australia and the Indo-Pacific

On 17 August, the Parliamentary Friends of Population and Development and the Parliamentary Friends of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs co-hosted a parliamentary roundtable on protecting the health, safety and dignity of sex workers in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. The discussion brought together parliamentarians, government representatives and sex worker-led organisations to explore the links between gender-based violence, HIV and workplace safety.

Participants heard about the challenges facing sex workers across the region, including stigma, discrimination, barriers to healthcare and the impact of restrictive laws and policies. Particular attention was given to the experiences of migrant sex workers, who often face additional barriers to accessing healthcare due to visa status and limited access to Medicare. Speakers also noted concerns that disclosure of HIV status or engagement with health services could affect future visa applications, creating further disincentives to seek care and support.

First Meeting of APGPD for the 48th parliament

On Tuesday, July 29th, the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (APGPD) conducted their inaugural meeting for the 48th parliament. We were honoured to introduce our new Co-Chair, Dr. Carina Garland, Federal Member for Chisholm, and extend our gratitude to Senator Mehreen Faruqi for continuing as Co-Chair. We also express our deepest appreciation to our outgoing Co-Chair, Lisa Chesters, for her dedication and advocacy, and for steering the group with determination and courage. We know her ongoing participation in the group will be highly valuable and impactful. Continue Reading...

Welcome Video from International MPs

Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Pacific and Timorese Labour Migrants in Australia

On Monday 22 September, the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (APGPD) hosted an online briefing focused on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs of Pacific and Timorese labour migrants in Australia. The event brought together parliamentarians, advisors, community leaders, and sector experts for a timely discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) participants.

Expert Panel Presentations

The briefing featured three distinguished speakers:

• Lindy Kanan –  Social Researcher and Adjunct Industry Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
• Bess Bowry  – Interpreter and senior member of the I-Kiribati community in NSW. 
• Dr Adele Murdolo – CEO, Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health

The panel presentations were followed by a Q&A and discussion, and we heard from our wonderful co-chairs Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Dr Carina Garland. Continue Reading….

30 Years of Impact:
Still advocating for rights, equity and access

October 2025 was indeed a proud moment for the APGPD as we marked our 30-year anniversary. We held an exhibition entitled, ’30 years of impact: still advocating for rights, equity, and access’. At the celebration, we reflected on the legacy of the group from assisting with the RU486 reform to repealing harmful aid restrictions, from supporting regional parliamentary groups to launching global reports right here in Parliament House, We have been a real catalyst for change.

We heard from former leaders like Margaret Reynolds, whose vision helped establish the APGPD. Her words in the anniversary booklet – Thirty years on, there is still so much to be done – ring true. We also heard from former Senator, Claire Moore and former Member, Sharman Stone, who spoke with warmth about the group’s rich history. We heard how the challenges of 1995 echo in 2025, and how the solutions still depend on courage, collaboration, and persistence. The event also reminded us of the power of relationships, across chambers, across borders, and across sectors. That solidarity is what gives the APGPD its strength.

You can read all about our history on our history and impact page.

The Real Fertility Crisis The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world

On Monday, November 24, the APGPD hosted the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to launch their 2025 State of World Population Report. This event was held alongside the commencement of the global campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The report, titled ‘The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World,‘ highlights that the real population crisis isn’t about numbers but about personal agency. It’s about whether people can make free and informed choices about their bodies and futures. We had a remarkable lineup of speakers guiding us through the key themes of both the report and the campaign:

• The Hon. Dr. Anne Aly MP,
  Minister for Small Business, International Development, and Multicultural Affairs;
• The Hon. Ged Kearney MP,
  Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence;
• Dr. Aleksandar Bodiroza,
  UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ad interim;
• Ms. Bidisha Pillai,
  Director and Representative of UNFPA Pacific Island Countries; and
• Senator the Hon. Dr. Mehreen Faruqi,
  Co-Chair of the APGPD

The presentations were followed by a Q&A and discussion. Continue reading...