Strong economy benefits women

The Australian Government’s ongoing gender equality reforms will see Australian women benefit from the strong economy.

The Government released the Women’s Statement 2012 in Sydney this morning, detailing the major reforms this Government has introduced to improve outcomes for women.

The Government’s broad reform agenda on the back of a strong economy has been pivotal to driving advances in gender equality.

These reforms are intrinsically linked: a strong, well-managed economy enables Australian women and men to receive a fair dividend for their contribution and hard work, helps households meet cost of living pressures, and means we can provide support to those who need it most.

These important reforms are aimed at a genuine and sustained removal of barriers to women’s full and equal participation in the workforce.

Gender inequality is a significant disincentive to women’s workforce participation.

Improving women’s workforce participation is not only critical to closing the gender gap in the workplace but essential if we are to boost Australia’s productive capacity.

It is estimated that closing the gap between women’s and men’s workforce participation could boost Australia’s Gross Domestic Product by up to 13 per cent.

The Government has been proud to continue Labor’s long legacy of reform to advance the status of women, building on the infrastructure put in place by previous Labor Governments.

The Government is:

• Delivering and Implementing the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.
• Enacting and implementing the changes to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace legislation – and introducing the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
• Progressing towards the target of at least forty per cent women on Australian Government boards.
• Continuing to build mental health and aged care reforms and a National Disability Insurance Scheme that will have significant benefits for women.
• Strengthening our focus on improving women’s participation in the workforce and economic outcomes.

Our Women’s Statement 2012 outlines where we are going and how it will contribute to long term change towards equality and build a stronger and fairer Australia.

The Women’s Statement is available at FaHCSIA website