We understand the focus on work and care to apply to both the intersection of workplace laws with informal caring responsibilities, but also the intersection of the workplace laws with employment in the care sector.
NFAW congratulates the Government on the introduction of an amendment to the Fair Work Act to provide 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave as part of the National Employment Standards. NFAW is one of many organisations that have repeatedly sought such an amendment.
NFAW is grateful for the invitation to contribute to the review of the operation of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2021 (Cth) (the FW SAJER Act). We note, however, that 12 months is a short time in which to establish reliable impact data, especially when employment behaviour during that period has also been affected by the national pandemic response.
The Budget Fails to Support Australian Women. No Structural Reform in Areas that Affect Women’s Lives. The Gender Lens 2022 Budget Review is prepared by The National Foundation for Australian Women. Leading experts in gender, economics, and social policy work together to review the Budget through agender lens to ensure there is an organisation advocating for and articulating what the budget means for all women living in Australia.
Since 2014 NFAW has undertaken an in-depth analysis of the Budget papers through a Gender Lens. In 2021 the Government reintroduced a Women’s Budget Statement, but our analysis looks behind this year’s document to separate the facts from the spin; new money from reannouncements; to see what is actually being done to respond to the needs of women.
The terms of reference of this inquiry are extensive, however we particularly note that the inquiry is focussed on matters that are within the scope of the Victorian Government. The National Foundation for Australian Women has been engaged in a program of work that looks at workforce conditions for women, including many of the areas referenced in the terms of reference of this enquiry.
The Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021 (the Bill) is minimalist in its ambitions and achievements: indeed, many of its provisions are described by the government in its Explanatory Memorandum as merely clarifying existing provisions of the relevant legislation (paras 14, 18, 19, 21, 24 and 184).
In the course of our submission, we make some remarks critical of two key recommendations from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) submission. The burden of our concern is the deregulatory approach underpinning both of these recommendations.
The National Foundation for Australian Women strongly supports the following measures - Improving women’s economic security through access to more affordable child care (including raising the Child Care Subsidy from 85% to 95% for low income families) and NSW Government commitment to support vulnerable families in accessing child care places.
