‘A world leader on gender equality’: Labor government takes strong steps with first Budget

The wishes of Australian women are starting to be heard, with Labor’s first budget delivering solid initial steps toward gender equality.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers reiterated this intention with four central pillars: cheaper childcare for 96 percent of Australian families, an 8 week boost to paid parental leave, 1.7 billion to improve women’s safety policies and gender responsive budgeting to ensure that the gender impact of decisions remains central to parliamentary decision-making process.

Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher said that the Government was committed to levelling the playing field for women across the board.

“Women are not an add-on in this budget. They are not a group of people that are nice to consider or include in the budget as a political fix like they have been under the former government,” she said. “Labor’s first Budget delivers on our election commitment to elevate the position of women in Australia through responsible and targeted investments, because we know that policies that are good for women are good for the economy.”

The full Women’s Budget Statement is available here, but below are the biggest takeaways:

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EQUALITY 

The government will:

• Deliver a $531.6 million investment to expand the Paid Parental Leave scheme up to 26 weeks by July 2026–the biggest boost to Australia’s Paid Parental Leave scheme since it was created in 2011. The initiative will enable parents to spend more time with their children and share caring responsibilities more equally.
• Invest $4.7 billion over four years to make it easier and cheaper for parents to access early childhood education and care. 
• Provide families with First Nations children access to a minimum level entitlement of 36 hours per fortnight of subsidised early childhood education and care from July 2023. This will provide a strong foundation for First Nation’s children.
• Provide a $20.2 million investment to establish two new Expert Panels on Pay Equity and the Care and Community Sector in the Fair Work Commission. This will strengthen the Fair Work Commission’s capacity to hear and determine applications from female-dominated industries whose work is often undervalued and under-paid.
• Reform the workplace relations system to make gender equity an objective of the Fair Work Act 2009 and legislate a statutory equal remuneration principle.

WOMEN’S SAFETY 

To support the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 the government has committed an investment of over $1.7 billion, made up of: 

• $1.3 billion in funding for a range of targeted initiatives to address gender-based violence.
• $39.6 million in 2022-23 for additional support through the Escaping Violence Payment program, 
• $25 million over five years to trial innovative responses to address the behaviour of perpetrators; and 
• $12.6 million over two years to extend the program assisting Temporary Visa Holders who are experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence.
• $169.4 million for 500 frontline service and community workers to support women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence, with support targeted to women and children in rural, regional and remote areas; First Nations people; the culturally and linguistically diverse community; women with disability; and the LGBTQIA+ community. 
• $83.5 million over 6 years for consent and respectful relationships education, to prevent violence before it begins and support young people to develop safe and healthy relationships.
• $42.5 million to implement all recommendations of the Respect@Work report. This includes $32 million to fund Working Women’s Centres in all states and territories, which provide free advice and assistance to women on issues including workplace sexual harassment, discrimination and wage theft. 
• $3.4 million to support the implementation of 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave.
• $3.0 million to restore funding to the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Service forum.
• $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence and older women on low incomes who are at risk of homelessness, through the Housing Australia Future Fund.

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING

To support women’s health and wellbeing, the Government has pledged to:

• $26.2 million funding 12 new perinatal mental health centres across Australia. This will help around 2,880 expectant and new parents to access to the mental health support they need each year.
• $5.9 million towards expanding the pregnancy and postnatal guidelines for expectant parents, including target consultation and guidance for culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations people. A further $13.9 million will be provided to increase the number of autopsies and investigations undertaken after a stillbirth.
• $22.5 million over 3 years from 2022–23 to build a dedicated Birthing on Country Centre of Excellence at Waminda, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Nowra, NSW. The Birth Centre will be operational by 2025–26 and will support best practice birthing on country services and support.