Page 2264 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 August 2022
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lens over a budget is a relatively new thing in Australia. A lot of countries have provided examples that the government can consider implementing here in the ACT. I am looking forward to working with the federal Minister for Women, as they proceed with applying a gender lens to their budgets into the future, so that we are not needing to reinvent the wheel. An appropriate budget statement that is used federally can also be one that the ACT can utilise, leading on from some of the examples that might be possible for use here in the ACT, and of course working very closely with the women’s services sector in the ACT to make sure that we get an appropriate process in place that meets the needs of our community.
MS LAWDER: How can we get that information on how the initiatives in the budget will affect women differently, as we would see in a proper Women’s Budget Statement, such as the one used in Canada on gender diversity and equality?
MS BERRY: I am pleased that the women in this place are keen to ensure that we do have an appropriate gender lens process across our budget here in the ACT. I think members will agree that in my time as Minister for Women in this place that process has evolved and that Women’s Budget Statements have grown and are continuing to grow and better inform our community about the impact for women across the ACT.
In the Office for Women, and through our work with Treasury considering the process in Canada, the UK and New Zealand, we have to consider a process that is appropriate for our community here in the ACT. Once we have completed that work and we are able to put something in place that is suitable for us, using those examples that Ms Lawder has identified in Canada, then we can start working on that process here in the ACT. As I said, it is relatively new to have the gender lens across a budget, so we want to make sure that it meets the needs of our community and is appropriate for the ACT.
MS CASTLEY: Minister, why won’t you move the women’s portfolio into the CMTEDD directorate so that this sort of proper analysis can be executed?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Barr, you will respond to that?
MR BARR: I will, thank you. The administrative arrangements within government are a matter under my responsibility. There are often calls for various areas of government to be moved into the Chief Minister’s directorate. If I said yes to every single one, there would almost be no other directorates.
Ms Lee interjecting—
MR BARR: The joke from the Leader of the Opposition is that it is already too big, yet her colleague is calling for more to be added to the Chief Minister’s directorate.
Ms Lee: Don’t verbal me!
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Lee, I remind you that you have been warned.
MR BARR: I think that says it all.
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