A step towards intergenerational justice

For too long, Australian politics has been dominated by short-term decision-making, leaving future generations to deal with the consequences. But a new bill introduced to Parliament aims to change that by embedding intergenerational justice into policymaking. 

Earlier this month, Independent MP Sophie Scamps tabled the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill 2025, which was seconded by Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer.

We are encouraged to see that several of our key recommendations from our A Fair Go for All report, developed in partnership with EveryGen and Foundations for Tomorrow, have helped shape this new bill. This legislation represents an important step toward intergenerational justice and gender-inclusive policymaking in Australia.

1. A Commissioner for Future Generations 

We recommended establishing a Commissioner for Future Generations to ensure policymakers consider the long-term impact of their decisions. The bill includes provisions for such a role, which would help bring greater accountability to policymaking and ensure that future generations, including women and marginalised groups, are considered in policy decisions.

2. Strengthened intergenerational reporting

 Our report emphasised the need for improved intergenerational reports and a budget statement for future generations. The bill appears to support this approach, embedding long-term planning mechanisms into governance to better address issues like economic security, gender equity, and climate resilience.

 3. Independent oversight of policy impact 

We proposed an independent evaluation framework to assess whether policies serve both present and future generations. If the bill includes mechanisms for assessing long-term policy impacts, this would represent a meaningful step forward in ensuring a gender-responsive and inclusive approach to policymaking.

 4. Building resilience into government 

Our research highlighted the need for resilience strategies at all levels of government. The bill reflects this recommendation by encouraging long-term governance planning to help ensure sustainable policy outcomes that consider the needs of women, families, and marginalised communities.

Looking ahead 

This bill signals a shift in Australian politics toward more sustainable, long-term decision-making. With nearly 8 in 10 Australians supporting a Commissioner for Future Generations and 97% believing that today’s policies should account for future generations, there is clear public backing for this direction.

 The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership is proud that our research has contributed to this development. However, our work is far from over – we remain committed to ensuring that Australia continues to embrace a future-ready and gender-equitable approach to policymaking.