Thursday 8th September, is Equal Pay Day 2016. Equal Pay Day marks the additional time from the end of the previous financial year that women must work to earn the same as men.

Will you join WEL in promoting Equal Pay Day?

This week Federal Parliament returns after a 116 day hiatus. With the Coalition on 76 seats in the House of Representatives, and an uncertain Senate, moving from 8 crossbench senators to 11, our 45th Parliament is set to be a very interesting stage indeed. It's at a time like this that our voices really matter. 

Dear members, supporters, donors and friends, 

We're writing to say thank you very much. 

In the weeks leading up to the Federal Election, our community helped us spread the word that feminism is alive and WEL! We want to send a big heartfelt thank you - we simply couldn't run our campaigns without your support! 

On Monday 18th July, the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the Government's new cabinet and ministry. 

Click HERE to view the full list.

The Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE) Newsletter for May 2016. This issue includes the WAVE Conference, the Federal Election, membership and the petitions to save Working Women’s Centres. 

Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers last met together in March 2013, although State and Territory Ministers met in October 2015. This first meeting of 2016 in Brisbane was an opportunity for Ministers to consider key issues and agree to further work and national collaboration around housing and homelessness.

The member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, is currently finalising the draft of a private Members’ bill designed to promote gender equality in offices within the Executive Government of the Commonwealth. 

He is seeking community support for a greater representation of women in Cabinet, and would like to see as many women as possible in attendance in the gallery of the House of Representatives when he introduces the bill into Parliament. 

Mr Palmer's office believe that the introduction of the bill is likely to be tabled during the sitting week starting Monday, 29 February 2016.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEECH

Date Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Speaker: Palmer, Clive, MP

The Inquiry's final report has been released today and provides 19 recommendations that, if implemented, would narrow the gap between men and women's retirement security.

The Inquiry found that Australia's retirement system disproportionally rewards the working lives of men over women. From their first day at work, Australian women face a structural disadvantage in being able to achieve a safe and dignified retirement.

We’d love Christian Porter to be talking new money for women’s refuges but he isn’t - just another 'reannouncement'

Here at WEL we are saddened by the continuing news that there is no new funding for frontline family violence services. Almost daily we hear of yet another woman killed at the hands of her partner or ex-partner, and until attitudinal and behavioural change campaigns and programs can show real results, WEL is calling on the Government to establish a Women's and Children's Safety Program (WACS Program). With a large number women's refuges closing their doors, and the remainder struggling to provide services on limited funding, women and children remain at risk.

Asked last week about greater funding for frontline domestic violence services, Christian Porter, Minister for Social Services, said the Coalition government has done more in the past nine months than has been ever done before. Minister Porter cited $230 million for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH).

Porter's comments last week were a 'reannouncement' of the March 2015 announcement by Scott Morrison, the then Federal Minister for Social Services. In March 2015, the Federal Government extended homelessness funding for another two years, providing $230 million under the NPAH.

Mr Morrison said the Government would provide $230 million to extend NPAH until 2017, with funding priority given to frontline services focusing on women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, and homeless youth under 18. (1)

The Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) report issued in December 2015 has no homelessness funds for 2017-2018. (2)

1 https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/national-partnership-agreement-on-homelessness

2 http://budget.gov.au/2015-16/content/myefo/html/08_attachment_d_annex_a-02.htm#A5

WEL NSW Executive Member, Mary O'Sullivan, appeared alongside Jane Mears (OWN) and Jane Brock (Immigrant Women's Speakout) at the NSW Parliament Upper House inquiry into elder abuse in NSW.