Budgets matter for women. The choices governments make are not gender neutral, especially at this time. It is important that gender implications be considered as part of the budget as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 crisis to make sure that Australian women do not fall further behind.

Australia was the first country in the world to produce a Women’s Budget Statement under the Hawke Government in 1984. The idea was to be transparent about how the decisions made in the Budget impact Australian women. This continued for thirty years until Prime Minister Abbott – the then Minister for Women – scrapped the process in his horror 2014 Budget to try to hide the impact of his cuts on women.

Since then, Labor has continued to produce it every year from Opposition. Labor has also conducted gender impact assessments on Shadow Cabinet submissions and new policy proposals since 2014.

The 2020 Budget 

Women are being left out and left behind by the Morrison Government.

The quick facts:

• The 2020 Budget contains nothing to address significant job losses in industries dominated by women.
• No new funding for frontline domestic and family violence service providers that support women and their children escaping violence.
• Nothing new to address the gender pay gap.
• Nothing on superannuation and women’s economic security in retirement.
• Nothing on childcare.
• Nothing on social housing.
• The 2020 Budget doesn’t contain a single measure that directly addresses women’s long-term and structural economic disadvantage.

Access the full 2020 Women’s Budget Statement here.