The federal authorities will probably be requested to revive single mother or father funds for girls of youngsters over eight years outdated.
It’s one of many key suggestions the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce will hand to the Albanese authorities within the lead-up to the May funds.
Labor has pledged to make girls’s equality and fairness a precedence for its funds and coverage choices, which culminated within the formation of the taskforce final yr.
The taskforce was requested to offer the federal government suggestions for offering financial equality in Australia, to advise on the federal government’s nationwide technique to realize gender equality, in addition to to supply suggestions on gender responsive coverage making and budgeting.
Sam Mostyn, chair of the taskforce, addressed the National Press Club on Thursday, the place she shared her imaginative and prescient for a extra equitable and equal Australia, whereas admitting it could require “decades of work”.
She stated the taskforce was within the means of constructing a report back to be offered to the federal government, however shared key desires and a main suggestion.
“We want to absolutely back in the commitment to a universal, high-quality early education and care system. We want more and more on paid parental leave – we’ve been delighted with the increases to date, but we want superannuation on paid parental leave,” she stated.
“One of our primary recommendations will be for the restoration of single parent payment for women of children over eight years old.”
Currently, as soon as a single mother or father’s youngest youngster turns eight, they have to apply for JobSeeker or another cost, relying on their circumstances. Job Seeker Principal Carer is a cost for single mother and father whose youngest youngster is between eight and 16.
Ms Mostyn stated the taskforce had heard how exhausting the cut-off had overwhelmingly impacted single moms and precipitated monetary devastation.
“‘Everything falls apart when my daughter turns eight’ – this is a single mother on payments,” Ms Mostyn stated, quoting a lived expertise.
She conceded the taskforce needed “a lot of things” however nonetheless wanted them costed earlier than all suggestions had been put to the federal government “shortly”.
“We want to have the Commonwealth rental assistance increased.
“We want … an immediate pay rise for all early childhood educators in recognition of their work and the urgent need to retain, and attract workers to that sector. If we are going to put our precious children into the workforce, we want them to be better paid.
“We also want the activity test abolished as part of the child care subsidy.”
During her speech, she stated the suggestions which might be put to authorities had been based mostly on the wide-ranging experiences girls throughout the nation had shared with the taskforce.
“We intend to ensure our report and recommendations create a legacy – not a neglected, dusty report on the shelf to be cited in a decade or so,” she stated.
“We believe this is sound public policy – smart policy that will unlock multiple contributions of women to Australian society, including as people, partners, parents, employees, entrepreneurs, employers and change makers, and provide them with the visibility, confidence and skills and opportunity they need to maximise their economic contribution.
“Most of the things that we have identified will require decades of work and we’re not shy about that, because delivering on enduring outcomes will require building on these outcomes year after year, in a staged, transparent and measurable way.
“This should be a guiding principle of achieving gender equality generally and underpin the work of the national gender equality strategy.”
Source: www.news.com.au
