Chief Executive Women (CEW) commends the NSW Government for its bold reform to improve women’s economic participation in today’s 2022-23 NSW Budget.
CEW welcomes the landmark investment in early childhood education and care – along with other measures, in particular, to improve women’s workforce participation and progress into leadership roles, support for women in small business and entrepreneurship, the Carla Zampatti capital venture fund, and measures to stop sexual harassment in the workplace.
Chief Executive Women President Sam Mostyn, who has independently Chaired the Women’s Economic Opportunities Review Expert Reference Panel, welcomed the NSW Government’s long-term commitments and strategic investments to unlock women’s economic participation and grow the NSW economy.
CEW welcomes a budget that puts women at the centre of the economy. Women’s economic participation is one of the most effective actions to drive productivity and economic activity.
“The measures announced in today’s NSW budget will help expand women’s choices to work, while closing the gender gap in workforce participation.
CEW has long advocated for increased investment in early childhood education and care, noting that improving access to early learning is central to enabling women’s workforce participation and economic security. These measures are good for productivity and economic activity, give children the best start in life, and give families more choice. This is vital stewardship from the country’s largest state.
“It is very pleasing and important to note the critical role women leaders have played in ensuring this budget is wide-ranging and delivers for NSW. We congratulate the Treasurer, working together with the Premier, and senior women Ministers – the Minister for Women, Minister for Education and Early Learning, Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer” Mostyn said.
As NSW and the rest of the country experiences critical labour shortages, these reforms will support women choosing to participate in the workforce and progress into leadership roles.
CEW research, conducted in partnership with Impact Economics and Policy, indicates that halving the workforce participation gap between men and women would release 500,000 additional workers into the Australian economy.
Further commentary on NSW Budget measures, including the $5 billion package to increase access to childcare, can be found here.
Media Contact:
Melanie Fernandez, Chief Executive Women E: mfernandez@cew.org.au, M: +61 402334286
