The 2021 Federal Budget: What’s in the Women’s Budget?

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Scott Morrison (Scott Morrison) revealed his important role, can win workplace harassment and even Matildas harassment, thus winning women’s vote.

The Morrison government is addressing women’s health, wealth, and personal safety issues by investing US$3.4 billion to solve its “women’s issues”.

In an 81-page “Women’s Budget Statement”, the government highlighted the measures it supports to address issues including domestic violence, sexual harassment and financial security.

There are also funds for parenting and pension changes, assisting in the purchase of property and responding to revenge porn.

The statement pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the beginning or escalation of violence and abuse by many women.

The statement said: “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, two-thirds of women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their current or former common-law partners. Since the violence began, violence has begun or escalated.”

It pointed out that during this period, certain groups are more likely to experience physical and sexual violence, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women between the ages of 18 and 24, women with limited health, pregnant women, and women with financial difficulties.

The statement said: “Women are more likely to suffer economic insecurity during a pandemic.”

“The initial economic impact of COVID-19 hit women’s employment harder than it hit men. In May 2020, during the worst period of the recession, the number of women employed fell by approximately 470,000 or 7.7% over the same period, while the number of men employed This is down by about 400,000, or 5.9%. This is in sharp contrast to the previous recession, which had a disproportionate impact on male employment.”

The following are some of the ways the Morrison government has dealt with issues affecting women.

related: “Combat Ready”: Ominous Signs in the Budget

Reduce childcare costs

The government will provide more affordable childcare services for families with more than one child, thanks to a five-year investment of US$1.7 billion, which will make approximately 250,000 families better off at an average of US$2,200 per year.

This policy change will not take effect until July 2022, which means that if families under the age of two are under the age of 6, they will be eligible for 95% of the second child parenting allowance.

Wealthy households will also benefit from the increase in the subsidy ceiling. Currently, if the income of each family exceeds $189,390, the subsidy cap for each child is $10,560, but the cap will be lifted on July 1, 2022, providing assistance to approximately 18,000 families.

Help single parents buy a house

Single parents will be supported to purchase a house with a deposit as low as 2%, regardless of whether they previously owned property.

From July 1, the government will provide 10,000 parents with a four-year loan to purchase a house through its family housing guarantee program, subject to their ability to provide loans and the upper limit of real estate prices.

The government has also expanded its popular “new home guarantee” by adding 10,000 first-time buyers to buy houses with a 5% deposit.

Increase pension

Now, even if the monthly income of Australians is less than A$450, they will be eligible for a pension.

This change is expected to help approximately 200,000 women and increase their retirement savings.

Senior citizens in Australia no longer need to take work tests and can voluntarily provide super donations.

If people over the age of 60 reduce the size of their housing, they can also contribute $300,000 to the pension, which will also free up more housing for young families.

The government will also enhance the pension loan program by providing a one-time payment for immediate use (approximately $12,000 for singles and $18,000 for couples).

Dealing with online abuse

The government will invest US$26.2 million to improve the security of women’s and children’s online spaces.

Thanks to the US$18 million investment in eSafety within two years, people who engage in online harassment can be tracked more quickly. The funding will enable the organization to respond more quickly to reports of image-based abuse, adult online abuse, cyberbullying and harmful online content.

Under this initiative, eSafety will also develop advanced web crawling software that can investigate private images shared without consent.

Approximately US$3 million will be invested in implementing technology within two years to identify private images that are shared without consent and to help quickly remove image-based abusive materials.

A new plan will also be developed to support children who have been abused by technology, and a new national online safety awareness campaign will be launched.

Promote apprenticeship and sports

Funds will be provided to help women enter non-traditional industries, and 5,000 places of training support will be provided, as well as another 5,000 places in higher education short-term courses.

Approximately US$63.5 million will be provided to provide an additional 2,700 places in indigenous girls’ schools to help them complete their studies and enter the labor market.

The government will also invest US$42.4 million to enable women to obtain STEM qualifications and expand the “National Vocational College Partnership Grant” program to provide women with more employment opportunities.

Sports will be carried out by encouraging Australian girls to obtain 17 million Australian dollars in funding, which will take advantage of Australia’s FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2022 and the 2023 FIFA Women’s Football World Cup.

Australian football will receive about 12 million Australian dollars in two years to support Matildas and the national youth team to participate in more international competitions, thereby driving the development of the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup and enabling people from disadvantaged and disadvantaged groups to participate in football. Come in.

It will also help women obtain qualifications as coaches or officials, and encourage more indigenous women to participate in sports.

related: How much can you save on childcare costs

Simplify court procedures

Separate couples will be able to use simplified court procedures and lawyer-assisted mediation services to support the settlement of small claims property disputes.

It is believed that this is particularly helpful for women, who on average have a much greater decline in their disposable income than women after separation or divorce.

Help navigate the legal system

An additional US$129 million will be provided for legal aid services to ensure women’s access to the justice system.

Approximately US$85 million will be provided so that every family court with a permanent judge can access family advocacy and support services.

Funding for access to child contact services will increase by US$101.4 million to ensure that separated parents can safely manage their children’s contacts and transitions, while US$60.8 million will be used for reforms to significantly reduce the time spent on litigation by separated families.

More funding for women’s health

The government invested US$351.6 million in maternal, sexual and reproductive health, aging, chronic diseases, preventive sexual health and mental health.

There will be US$100 million in investment to improve screening programs for cervical and breast cancer, and US$96 million in funding for new tests under the Medicare Benefits program to perform pre-implantation genetic testing on embryos, To detect specific gene or chromosomal abnormalities before pregnancy.

There will also be $5 million for pelvic pain and endometriosis support.

Approximately US$13.7 million is being provided to expand the work of the Women and Infant Research Foundation, which aims to reduce the preterm birth rate, which currently exceeds 8%.

Starting April 1, the list of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Program (PBS) will be revised for women with certain types of breast cancer. Without the PBS subsidy, patients may have to pay about $50,000 for each course of treatment. Instead, women will now pay $41.30 per script, or $6.60 through a discount card.

C$47.4 million will be provided to ensure the mental health of new parents and prospective parents, and C$26.9 million will be provided for patients with eating disorders.

Domestic violence support

In addition, US$1.1 billion will be provided for women’s safety measures, including emergency accommodation, legal assistance, counseling and cash payments for people escaping from abusive relationships.

This includes an additional US$25.3 million for first-line services, including an additional US$12.6 million for the Safe Places Program within three years, which is used to build, renovate or purchase properties for emergency accommodation.

In addition, 4.9 million Australian dollars of expansion funds will be provided within three years for services aimed at offenders, including the “No Violence” male referral service and the “Australian Male Line” “For Good” program.

About 164.8 million U.S. dollars in financial assistance will be provided in three years, such as a two-year pilot program that provides women with up to 5,000 U.S. dollars in financial assistance and promotes an interest-free loan program of 2,000 U.S. dollars to women fleeing violence.

Help the disadvantaged

US$57.6 million will be used to better support indigenous women and children who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence. This will be used for service providers and other plans.

The solution to the economic recovery of indigenous women promoted by social enterprises will be supported by US$13.9 million.

Approximately US$9.3 million will be used to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, while approximately US$6.8 million will be used to improve prevention programs at the family, family, and local levels for different communities.

As a result of the $10.3 million investment, the pilot program for payments for temporary visa holders to women who have suffered domestic and domestic violence will also be extended. In addition, $29.3 million will be spent on the safety and inclusion of immigrant and refugee women.

Eliminate harassment in the workplace

An additional US$20.5 million will be used to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the workplace, including the implementation of “respect for work” reports.

This includes $5.3 million in funding for primary prevention programs, sexual harassment research and other initiatives.

Funds will also be provided for front-line support to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

Encourage women’s leadership

The Women’s Leadership and Development Program, which provides funding for projects that help women take up leadership roles, is being expanded with a funding of $38.3 million.

More funding will also be provided to the Workplace Gender Equality Authority, which promotes gender equality in the Australian workplace.

Read related topics:Scott Morrison

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