LABOR’S WOMEN’S BUDGET STATEMENT

Tanya Plibersek MP

Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Women and Youth

WOMEN WILL GET A BETTER DEAL UNDER A RUDD LABOR GOVERNMENT

This morning I launched Labor’s Women Budget Statement.

Labor prepared this statement to highlight inequities that Australian women continue to face, which the Government has neglected once again in the Budget.

This budget misses the opportunity to invest in education or in workforce measures to help women returning to work after child-rearing.

Australia’s future economic prosperity depends on lifting women’s workforce participation, especially mothers of older children.

Australian women will be disappointed that this Budget has failed to provide:

• a fair and balanced industrial relations system;
• parents with the right to request flexible work arrangements until their child goes to school;
• parents with the right to request an extra 12 months unpaid parental leave;
• improvements to the quality and availability of childcare, and only minor improvements to the cost;
• investment in pre-schools, primary or secondary schools; and
• a national plan to stop violence against women and children.

Kevin Rudd has made strong commitments in all these areas.

Kevin Rudd and Australian Labor understand the opportunities and demands facing women in Australia today, and will meet the challenges of a modern society and economy.