Women’s economic security and safety feature in Budget measures

The Australian Government committed $1.9 billion to support women’s economic security in a $3.4 billion package of new measures for Australian women in the 2021-22 Federal Budget.

The package released on 11 May 2021 covered three key pillars:

• Women’s safety
• Women’s economic security
• Women’s health and wellbeing.

“Our approach to developing this Women’s Budget Statement has been informed by our values of respect, dignity, choice, equality of opportunity and justice – these are fundamental to the safety and economic security of women in Australia,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.¹

The Women’s Budget Statement said: “When women are safe, economically secure and healthy it provides benefits for individuals, families, business, and the economy. Improving outcomes in these areas will not only enhance the lives and livelihoods of Australian women; it will grow our economy and build a better society for all Australians.”²

Please note that some of these announcements are yet to be legislated and may be subject to change. We will keep you updated on all proposals through the QSuper website. You can also access all Budget papers here.

Women’s economic security

The 2021-22 Budget contained $1.9 billion to support women’s economic security including $1.7 billion of child care measures for Australian families.

This included removing the childcare subsidy annual cap and, starting in July 2022, making increased childcare subsidies available to families with two or more young children, benefitting around 250,000 families.

“This investment will generate an increase in women’s workforce participation. It has the potential to add up to 300,000 hours of work per week, which would allow the equivalent of around 40,000 individuals to work an extra day per week, and boost GDP by up to $1.5 billion per year,” the Budget Statement said.

The Government said it was also focused on improving retirement outcomes for women.

Measures included removing the $450 per month threshold  under which employers are exempt from paying employees, predominantly women, the Superannuation Guarantee. The proposed reform will take effect from 1 July 2022.

The Government will also extend access to the downsizer contribution  to people aged 60 and above from 1 July 2022, and will remove the work test that applies to superannuation contributions for people aged 67 to 74 from 1 July 2022.

Women’s safety

The Budget included $1.1 billion for women’s safety. The funding included measures to prevent violence before it begins, deliver frontline and response services, provide financial support for women leaving a violent relationship, and expand responses through the justice system.

As part of the package, the Government will spend $164.8 million over three years to establish Escaping Violence Payments to provide up to $1,500 in immediate cash and a further $3,500 in kind for goods or direct payments of bonds, school fees or other items.

It will spend $12.6 million to expand the Safe Places emergency accommodation program to support women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.

A further $20.5 million will be spent to prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment.

Women’s health and wellbeing

In the Budget, the Government said it was investing in new and amended Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings to treat a range of conditions, including breast cancer.

It said it was also investing $148.0 million in women’s preventive health measures.

How the pandemic impacted women

The Women’s Budget Statement said women and men had experienced the pandemic differently.

It acknowledged the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the onset or escalation of violence and abuse for many women.

It said women during the pandemic were also more likely to have experienced economic insecurity, including being at greater risk of job loss as well as suffering a cut to working hours around 25% larger than that experienced by men.

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1. Media Release, 11 May 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Budget delivering for Australian Women, at pm.gov.au
2. Australian Government, Budget 2021-22, Women’s Budget Statement, at budget.gov.au