Media release: CEW welcomes Federal Budget measures aimed at improving Australians’ economic security and unlocking workforce participation to address the country’s economic challenges by removing barriers for women and families. 

Today’s Federal Government budget has confirmed funding for several of CEW’s policy asks, including: 

$5 billion to deliver universal Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). 

• $3.6 billion to fund a wage increase for early childhood sector workers. 

• $426.6 million to deliver 3 Day Guarantee ECEC for all children and remove the Child Care Subsidy Activity Test. 

• $1 billion to establish the Build Early Education Fund to increase supply. 

$2.6 billion to deliver a second pay increase for aged care nurses.

$792.9 million in women’s health, including the first listing of new oral contraceptive pills on the PBS in over 30 years, new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, and 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics.

Personal income tax cuts removing bracket creep, which is projected to increase workforce participation by 1.3 million hours, of which 900,000 hours are projected to be women.

$4 billion on women’s safety, including $3.9 billion to enhance access to legal services. 

• $21.4 million to improve victim and survivor engagement with the justice system. 

• $21.8 million to continue to provide DFV services to First Nations communities. 

$16.4 million tripartite pilot grants program bringing together industry, employers and unions to address workforce gender segregation and drive structural and cultural change.

$3.4 million over 3 years to establish a place-based business mentoring and coaching program for First Nations women in business. 

CEW chief executive Lisa Annese said, “This is a budget that addresses many significant barriers Australian women and families have faced, and it will help to unlock their economic participation and productivity for the benefit of all”. 

“Investment in the care economy, women’s health and childcare makes strong economic sense and it’s promising to see the government taking major, generational steps to invest in a sustainable economic future for all Australians.” 

For consecutive years, CEW has called for intentional investment in gender equality and women’s workforce participation as the best way to boost productivity and build a modern economy. 

“We know that increasing women’s workforce participation is one of the most powerful levers for economic growth. CEW research has found that 1 million additional full-time skilled workers could be unlocked in Australia if women were engaged in paid work at the same rate as men. According to Deloitte, $11 billion would be added to Australia’s GDP by increasing women’s working hours by just 2 per cent,” Ms Annese said.

“Continued focus and investment in these areas will drive lasting benefits for women, businesses, and the broader economy.” 

CEW has also called for government to increase JobSeeker payments. 

“Jobseeker payments have not kept pace with rising cost of living and are trapping vulnerable Australians in poverty. CEW will continue to work with government to comprehensively address women’s economic and physical wellbeing, including increases to JobSeeker,” Ms Annese said. 

The complete list of CEW’s policy priorities can be viewed here. 

ENDS 

CEW Media Contact:  

Jesse McCarthy-Price 
jesse@cew.org.au 
0429 160 550