SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
BEIJING +30 GENDER EQUALITY REPORT
Australia continues to make progress towards gender equality ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by 189 countries at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1985, with the aim to advance gender equality worldwide.
To mark the anniversary, Australia has submitted its national review of gender equality to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said Australia’s report highlights the achievements in gender equality and identifies some of the challenges that remain.
“The report reflects Australia’s positive journey towards achieving gender equality—acknowledging the significant legislative, policy and structural reforms implemented since the last report five years ago,” Minister Gallagher said.
“Many of these reforms were made by the Albanese Government as we pursue an ambitious reform agenda. This includes making early childhood education and care cheaper and making the Paid Parental Leave scheme longer and more flexible.
“Our reforms have focused on women’s safety, at home and at work. We have invested a record $3.4 billion in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, and introduced paid domestic violence leave and workplace protections to protect against sexual harassment and assault at work and protect those who experience violence from workplace discrimination.
“We’ve introduced gender responsive budgeting to make sure that there is a focus on women’s equality right across Government policy development and decision making.
“The Government has also made gender equality an object of Australia’s Fair Work Commission and improved transparency and reporting on the gender pay gap through legislative reform. Reporting now includes the Commonwealth public sector, and employers with 100 or more employees.”
Australia currently has the highest recorded number of women in the Commonwealth Parliament with 44.5% of seats across both chambers held by women.
The report acknowledges that further progress is needed to achieve a gender equal society in Australia.
Minister Gallagher highlighted the role of the Working for Women strategy—a 10-year plan to shift the dial on gender equality.
“Australia is committed to being a global leader on gender equality.
“Gender equality is a priority for this Government and in March, we launched the country’s first national strategy with an explicit focus on achieving gender equality.
“It’s no secret that more work needs to be done to improve gender equality in Australia, including ending violence against women, better valuing and sharing paid and unpaid care, and closing the gender pay gap, but this report shows that we are heading in the right direction.”
Australia’s report will inform a global synthesis that will be submitted to the 69th session on the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2025
THURSDAY 18 JULY 2024
