The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women’s Economic Security has published a statement on a range of measures designed to support women through COVID-19.
The Office aims to create more opportunities and greater choice for women and support them to build financial security in the recovery from COVID-19. Its statement builds on a 2018 statement and complements the current JobMaker initiatives.
Minister for Women, Senator Marise Payne said that when women’s individual economic security improved, their participation in work and leadership had flow-on benefits for business, industry, and the economy as a whole.
Senator Payne said women had been significantly affected by the pandemic.
“We have seen an increase in family and domestic violence and a concerning rise in online harassment and reports of image-based abuse,” Senator Payne said.
“Industries in which women are heavily represented were hit hard,” she said.
“The 2020 statement builds and expands on the 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement and has five priorities.”
Senator Payne said the priorities were to repair and rebuild women’s workforce participation and further close the gender pay gap; To create greater choice and flexibility for families to manage work and care; To support women as leaders and positive role models; To respond to the diverse needs of women; and To support women to be safe at work and home.
“The 2020 statement is an important step in creating more opportunities and choices for women, not just for the recovery from COVID-19, but for the generations ahead,” Senator Payne said.
The Office’s full 76-page statement can be accessed at this PS News link.
