Australia educates girls and boys equally – it is number #1 in the world for gender equal education. But it does not sustain that equality in the workforce, with a 70 point drop in the latest World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index Rankings. When it comes to providing gender equal workplaces, economic outcomes and opportunities, women in Australia are falling far behind men, creating pay gaps, gender segregated workforces and leading to increased risk of poverty across the life-course.

Many current economic orthodoxies – about endless growth, the value of gross domestic product and industrial restraint – are underpinned by gender inequality. Entrenched gender inequities are embedded within financial structures and institutions, making it difficult to address other issues of discrimination and disadvantage.

We’re working towards:

• Special measures to address women’s economic disadvantage caused by care responsibilities, insecure work, unequal pay and gendered work segregation.
• Recognition of the gendered nature of COVID and targeted investments to build a gender equal economy.
• Investment in community based, grassroots projects to alleviate poverty

We’re working to make sure gender equal budgeting forms part of all government decision making. Through our yearly budget analysis we set out exactly what the economic and fiscal impacts of both the state and federal budgets on women and gender-diverse people. We’re a key voice in the push towards a gender equal economic for Victoria.