Gender Equity Victoria has released its inaugural budget submission as the peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women, to get Victoria’s gender equity investment Back on Track!

We have tracked the Victorian government’s investment in gender equality across the past decade, and investment has suffered from the absence of focused analysis and advocacy. With the exception of recent investments in family violence prevention, programs and services that empower women, seek to address women’s economic insecurity, other forms of gendered violence and the unequal health consequences of inequality have been exceptionally modest.

To correct historic underinvestment in gender equity, GEN VIC calls on the Victorian government to increase its 20/21 Budget to $21.6M to Strengthen Gender Equity in the Community and to Boost Women’s Health Services.

The submission outlines key principles for why it’s important to get gender equity investment Back on Track:

1. To deliver economic returns and other benefits to the Victorian State Budget
2. To increase Victoria’s gross domestic product
3. To meet international best practice in promoting gender equality and violence prevention
4. To invest in women across the life course approach and addressing intersectional inequity
5. To include both base operational and special projects funding for gender equity
6. To align to the Victorian Gender Equality Strategy
7. To promote transparency and accountability through gender responsive budgeting

To monitor investment annually against outcomes in an independent Victorian Gender Equity Report.

For a copy of the Back on Track summary, click here

For a copy of the Back on Track extended copy, click here