JOBS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

Since 2013, over 1.5 million jobs have been created. Around 60% of these have gone to women.

This year, female workforce participation has reached a record high of 61.6% – and is currently 60.5% (compared to 58.7% when we came to government).

The gender pay gap had fallen to a record low of 13.4% and now sits at 14.2% – down from 17.4% under the previous Labor government.

Challenges remain in rebuilding our economy and creating more jobs for all Australians, including women.

The 2021-22 Women’s Budget Statement included $1.9 billion to support women’s workforce participation and economic security. This includes an additional $1.7 billion to improve the affordability of child care and provide greater choice for women and men as they balance their home and work lives.

This investment builds on the 2018 and 2020 Women’s Economic Security Statements and continues our focus on the five key priorities of:

  • Repairing and rebuilding women’s workforce participation and further closing the gender pay gap.
  • Greater choice and flexibility for families to manage work and care.
  • Supporting women as leaders and positive role models.
  • Responding to the diverse needs of women.
  • Supporting women to be safe at work and home.

This year, the Government removed the $450 per month minimum threshold for the superannuation guarantee.

This will improve the economic security in retirement of around 200,000 women.

 

ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE

Under Labor, child care fees increased 53% over six years.

Since we came into office, 280,000 more children are in childcare and child care expenditure is up 77%.

This financial year, the Government is providing $9 billion in Child Care Subsidy, which makes child care more accessible and affordable.

The child care system is targeted, with those who earn the least receiving the highest level of subsidy (85%). Those who work, train or study the most get the most support.

Approximately 90% of families using approved child care are eligible for a Child Care Subsidy of between 50% and 85%.

A typical family is around $1,300 better off per child per year.

From 1 July 2022, additional support will be provided.

  • For families with more than one child in child care, the level of Child Care Subsidy will be increased by 30% – to a maximum of 90%. This will benefit around 250,000 families by an average of $2,200 per year.
  • The $10,560 cap on Child Care Subsidy will also be removed – benefiting around 18,000 families.

Families can see how they benefit from Child Care Subsidy at: www.dese.gov.au/early-childhood

Information about fees, vacancies, and quality ratings is available at: www.childcarefinder.gov.au

 

MORE FLEXIBLE PARENTAL LEAVE

Families are now able to split their Government funded Parental Leave Pay into blocks of leave, allowing them to work in between.

Since the introduction of the Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme more than 1.5 million people have received Parental Leave Pay; including over 650,000 people having received Dad and Partner Pay.

In 2019-20, the Government provided $2.4 billion in parental leave payments.

This makes returning to work much more flexible.

We have also extended the work test rules so more women are eligible for Government funded Parental Leave Pay.

 

WOMEN’S SAFETY

The Morrison Government continues to provide significant funding to keep women and children safe – at home, at work, on the streets and online.

The 2021 Budget invests a further $1.1 billion to respond to violence against women and their children, including for:

  • More emergency accommodation.
  • More financial support, including cash payments for those escaping abusive relationships.
  • More legal assistance.
  • More counselling.
  • More targeted services for Indigenous, migrant and refugee women and women with a disability.

This represents the Federal Government’s down payment on the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, which will commence in mid-2022.

This funding is on top of the$150 million the Commonwealth committed very early in the pandemic for the COVID-19 Domestic Violence Response Package.

Our investment in women’s safety is now over $2 billion since 2013.

Our Government has guaranteed a minimum entitlement of 5 days unpaid family and domestic violence leave per year for 6 million employees covered by the Fair Work Act.

To tackle online abuse, we have expanded the role of the e-Safety Commissioner. This office now also takes responsibility for online safety issues affecting adults, including victims image-based abuse.

Information current as at September 2021