Introduction to the Gender Lens on the May 2023 Budget
The second Albanese Budget builds on the initiatives introduced in the “bread and butter” budget from October 2022. Women’s economic equality was a priority last year, with changes proposed to childcare and paid parental leave (PPL) to enable economic activity. These measures come into force in July 2023, although some of the design issues around the proposed extension of PPL are yet to be finalised. This year the concerns of women are recognised across portfolios and the Women’s Budget Paper presented a range of evidence to support the need for action.
NFAW welcomes the welfare reforms that include support for single parents, the unemployed, energy fee relief, wage increases for aged care workers (the majority of whom are women), investment in Medicare for those on low-incomes, increased rent assistance, increased investment in housing and help to transition to clean energy. However we note that these changes amount to less than 2 per cent of the welfare budget and have only a small impact on living standards and poverty.
But the opportunity to reform the Stage 3 Income Tax cuts and apply a gendered lens has not been taken. Our analysis of revenue shows that a disproportionate amount of the projected growth in tax receipts comes from women, who will receive a much lower share of the proposed tax cuts.
NFAW believes that the Government should undertake gender analysis of the Stage 3 Tax cuts as a critical priority, in view of the scale of the reform to ensure a more equitable distribution of income in the Australian community. A gender analysis of the Stage 3 Tax cuts shows that :
- The plan will deliver $39 billion over 4 years to those earning over $200,000 per annum, two thirds of whom are men (PBO, 2023).
- The full cost of $69 billion dwarfs the $14 billion cost of living package to support the most disadvantaged.
- The $9000 annual decrease in tax for those earning over $200,000 a year Is more than double the increase in payments to eligible single parents who earn under $30,000 a year.
NFAW is positive about the Government’s women’s agenda but more needs to be done. The only way to ensure funding for the growing cost of essential services and to address poverty is to increase revenue. The Government needs to lead the public debate on tax reform, including reviewing the Stage 3 Tax cuts.
In addition to the authors named on individual papers, NFAW would like to thank the following advisers for their contribution to the 2023-24 Gender lens on the Budget.
Jen Bushell
Dr Mary Crawford
Erin Gillen
Dr Kathy MacDermott
Louise McSorley
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Professor Helen Hodgson Chair Social Policy Committee |
Marie Coleman AO PSM Advisor to Social Policy Committee |
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Budget Summaries
Budget Overview
Fiscal Outlook
Portfolio overviews and recommendations
Machinery of Government
Net impacts on particular groups of women
01. Impact on young women
02. Impact on older women
03. The Voice: ATSI Women
04. Impact on migrant and refugee women
05. Impact on women with disabilities
Revenue
06. Taxation
07. Superannuation
Physical infrastructure
08. Infrastructure, Urban and Rural
09. Climate change and Energy
10. Housing
Social Services
11. Aged Care
12. Social Security
Education and Training
13. Early childhood education and care
14. Schools
15. Vocational education and training
16. Higher education
Employment
17. Employment – The Care Sector Workforce
18. Paid parental leave
Health
19. Health
20. Reproductive Health
Safety
21. Reducing violence against women and their children
International Aid
22. International development
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GenderLensMay23-AllFiles.zip
Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE – GENDER LENS REVIEW 23
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Authorised by the National Foundation for Australian Women, Canberra: President Ms Jane Madden.