FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's Budget Statement No news, Old news
May 2002
‘The YWCA welcomes the government’s attempts to focus on intergenerational issues, however, this budget takes a very narrow approach to assisting women in various age groups’, said Cathi Moore on behalf of the YWCA of Australia.
‘Young women are not mentioned in the women’s budget statement where ageing and intergenerational issues were prominent. The most startling gap being a failure to recognise the connections between young women’s capacity to participate in paid work and having a family’.
‘The baby bonus is as expected funded in this budget. It can, however, only be hoped that it will soon be replaced by Paid Maternity, or even Parental, Leave given its shortcomings. Only for the one child per family and somewhere between less than $10 and less than $50 a week.’
‘The best news in the women’s budget statement was old news. The significant budget increases secured by the Office of Status of Women for its work last year.’
‘The YWCA welcomes the announcements for support for carers and funding to support older Australians to remain in their own homes.’
‘This year’s women’s budget statement indicates how far women have fallen off the government agenda. A slim volume with incidental impacts on women and the good news from the last budget.’
‘The YWCA takes this women’s budget statement as a challenge to be more involved in future budget processes to ensure that young women’s issues are heard and addressed.’
For comment call:
Cathi Moore
02 6230 5156 (w)
More information call:
Erica Lewis
0412 409 514 (m)
Prepared by WETTANK to inform discussion