NFAW recognises and respects the improvements to child care standards and fee relief systems which the current Commonwealth Government has brought about, including through important cooperation with the States and Territories. The NFAW notes that means of achieving greater time-flexibility and simplicity in funding arrangements are under consideration, but no announcements have been made as yet.
This submission focuses on unpaid care work done by women: women account for 8 out of 10 carers in Australia, and all accounts indicate that caregiving has greater impacts on women’s financially status, social well-being and physical and mental health.
In recent consultations with women throughout Australia, women identified a range of issues as relevant in determining the extent to which they are able to engage in the work force.
NFAW believes the process of Reform of Australia’s Future Tax System, and the October 2011 Tax Forum are a key opportunities to introduce changes which will enhance gender equality in the work-place, together with the promotion of greater fiscal vertical equity.
The NFAW and WomenSpeak/ERA, with valuable input from Professor Patricia Apps, independently held meetings to discuss the Henry Report at the University of Sydney through the Women and Work Research group, and at the University of Melbourne (Taxation Studies, Law School)
The NFAW is delighted that the Government has been so committed, and that the Opposition has formally stated its intention to allow the enactment of the Government's Paid Parental Leave Bill in the current Session, and so its administration to begin from 1 January 2011.
The National Women’s Alliance1 has called on Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments to reduce the systemic barriers to women with family responsibilities who wish to enter or return to the workforce.
The consultation on the Australia Institute (TAI) report The Impact of the Recession on Women1 was facilitated in Broken Hill, New South Wales, on 29 September 2009, by Darriea Turley, Chair of the National Rural Women's Coalition2 , The Broken Hill Enterprise Development Centre3 (BHEDC), Women on Boards4 , and the National Foundation for Australian Women5 (NFAW).
The NFAW has been engaged with this issue for a considerable time, including working to generate support for a Productivity Commission inquiry, before the election of the current Government and conducting community consultations on the Commission’s Report to Government prior to the Cabinet decision to proceed with the introduction of a national scheme.