Page 1479 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS BERRY: Minister, what other recent decisions will have an impact on the level of demand for ACT government support for ACT women?
MS BURCH: In general, the 2014-15 budget that was delivered last night will, I believe, disproportionately impact on women through a range of savings measures targeting families, young people and older people. It has been described, in essence, last night as a mean budget, disproportionately affecting those vulnerable in our community.
Women are often engaged in part-time or casual work, so changes to welfare payments will impact negatively on women’s overall living standards. In 2011 3.3 per cent of the ACT population identified as having a profound or severe disability, needing assistance in one or more of the core activities. Of this identified group, 56 per cent were females providing unpaid care to a person with a disability. Pausing the indexation of the disability support pension will therefore impact negatively on women. Cuts to the public service of 16½ thousand will also disproportionately impact on women as they hold a high proportion of public sector positions.
In regard to young people aged 22 to 30, they will be required to move to higher employment areas if they are unable to find employment after a 12-month period. Young women will be especially vulnerable if forced to move to larger urban centres and cities without the support of their families or existing networks. Deregulating higher education is likely to increase course fees across the board. In addition to the lowering of the HELP debt repayment threshold and the increase in interest charged on HELP loans, these changes will make access to higher education less affordable. While these changes will impact on all women, it has a clear disproportionate impact on the women in our community.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how is the return to work program helping disadvantaged women return to the workforce?
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Gentleman for his question. The ACT women’s return to work grants program provides grants of up to $1,000 to support women on low incomes, women who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young women or women with a disability who have been in a caring role looking to re-enter the workforce.
The eligibility criteria for the grants was expanded back in 2011 to include women who have been out of the workforce due to a caring role that has prevented them from employment for a period of time. Women who have children over the age of 16 are also now eligible to apply. I am pleased to inform the Assembly that the program is reaching a broad range of women wanting to return to work after an extended period of caring. To date 801 applications have been approved since the program commenced.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video