Australian Labor Government announces measures to support Women’s Safety and Economic Security
The Australian Government has released Building Australia’s Future: Labor’s Commitment to Women, outlining proposed actions to improve economic participation, financial independence, and safety outcomes for women.
The update led by Senator Katy Gallagher (Minister for Women) and Amanda Rishworth MP (Minister for Social Services) reflects the Government’s approach to embedding gender considerations across its economic and social policy frameworks.
Since taking office in 2022, the Albanese Government has introduced reforms including:
- Reductions in the gender pay gap;
- Superannuation payments on paid parental leave;
- Expanded access to early childhood education;
- More than A$4 billion allocated to women’s safety initiatives.
The new release highlights further areas for reform, including addressing financial abuse in tax and social security systems:
- Preventing the use of tax, corporate and superannuation systems to coerce or create debt in a partner’s name;
- Ensuring perpetrators, not victim-survivors, are held responsible for debts incurred through financial abuse;
- Reviewing superannuation rules in cases of domestic violence-related deaths.
An additional A$8.6 million has been committed for trialling electronic monitoring, early interventions and behaviour change programs targeting perpetrators.
If re-elected, the Labor Government also intends to:
- Roll out a A$790 million Women’s Health Package;
- Enshrine the right to request flexible work arrangements, including remote work;
- Progress toward universal access to early learning;
- Collaborate with the Fair Work Commission to address undervaluation in female-dominated roles;
- Provide income tax relief for working women.
Full policy document available at: alp.org.au/media/4006/workingauswomen_c.pdf
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