The Australian Gender Equality Council’s FY22-23 Pre Budget Submission identifies the critical need for a national strategy on gender equality to boost women’s workforce participation and the Australian economy.
Australia has never had a national strategy which comprehensively identifies and seeks to address all aspects of gender inequality as set out in AGEC’s Gender Equality Manifesto. Only when a comprehensive National Strategy is established by Government in collaboration with business and the broader community will Australia accelerate its pathway to achieving gender equality.
Given the marginal decline the gender pay gap over the past 20 years, ongoing gender segregation of industry sectors, unchanging gender role stereotypes, low levels of representation of women in leadership and politics, poor retirement outcomes for women relative to men, declining numbers of women CEO’s in our ASX200 firms and ongoing violence against women, AGEC believes that it is time that the Federal Government initiated a formal national gender equality strategy through a comprehensive consultation process.
AGEC’s pre budget submission identified this as a key pillar of the 2022-2023 Federal Budget, supported by a material increase in investment in all aspects of gender inequality including :
- Women’s Economic Security
- Family & Caring Responsibilities and Workplace Flexibility
- Women’s Workforce Representation & Leadership
- Safety & Respect for Women
- Societal Norms and Gender Stereotypes
- Budget & Policies Decisions
- Government and Democracy
Read all AGEC’s recommendations in its 2023 Pre Budget Submission.
