“The work towards gender equality continues and it will be high on my radar.”
Women continue to suffer high rates of violence, homelessness, unequal pay for equal work and discrimination in healthcare. If elected, I will prioritize gender equality for women.
In 2024 the Minister for Women launched ‘Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality 2024-2034’ which sets out a path to achieve equality for women over the next ten years with a focus on gender-based violence, unpaid and paid care, economic equality and security, health, and leadership, representation and decision-making.
I will work towards ensuring all parties adopt the Strategy and commit to funding its 10 year implementation. I will work to maintain and improve on the gains made for women in recent decades at a time when there seems to be an increase in regressive attitudes towards the equality of women. I will work to ensure that these regressive attitudes do not tempt a future Federal Government to undermine gender equality, including working towards a Human Rights Act.
Women should receive equal pay for equal work.
Australian women are paid 17.5% less than men doing the same work due to discrimination, a lack of women in senior positions, a lack of part-time or flexible roles that accommodate family responsibilities, and differences in education and work experience. I will work to improve this.
Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights abuses in Australia. One in three Australian women will experience violence in an intimate relationship, and domestic violence is the biggest cause of homelessness for Australian women. I will work to change this.
I will work for:
- Affordable and universal access to abortion
- Affordable and universal access to maternity health services (including continuity of care and Birthing on Country)
- Free universal early childhood education and care
- Increased funding for domestic violence and women’s refuge services across the nation
- Funding for public and community housing to 10% of total housing stock by 2050.
- Prioritisation of women’s health issues (as outlined in the Healthcare section).