The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget was mixed and fails to deliver on the intent of achieving gender equality in a generation. The budget confirmed funding for several gender equality initiatives in gender-based violence, under-paid care workers, paid parental leave and women’s health. But there is little for front-line services, no real increase in job-seeker, and a complete miss on the provision of universal free early childhood education. Of great concern is that there is no allocation of funding to address the root causes of gender inequality, gender role stereotypes and the division of domestic labour. Read AGEC’s Media Release on what the Federal Budget delivered and where it fell far short of the mark in terms of sustainable change.
