WEL has developed a Feminist Policy Framework, which sets out the values, which we use to measure fairness for women and fairness for society. We believe that good policies should address these indicators and work with governments at all levels on achieving better and fairer policy outcomes.
WEL also lists policies that we support from other organisations and advocacy groups - please visit our Supported Policies page.
Feminist Framework
WEL believes that fair policies are those that:
1. Ensure the benefits and outcomes are fairly distributed between women and men, as well as between different groups of women
2. Value and reward fairly people’s different skills, experiences and contributions
3. Recognise the value of caring and supporting roles, whether paid or unpaid
4. Recognise and rectify past and current inequalities between men and women; and
5. Enhance opportunities for both women and men to take on equal rights and responsibilities in all aspects of society: politics, community, employment and social life
Federal Government's Pandemic Response
WEL Statement (2020)
Religious Discrimination Bill
WEL submission to the Attorney General (2019)
Consent in relation to sexual assault offences
WEL endorsed submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission by Women's Legal Service NSW (2019)
WEL preliminary submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission (2018)
Affordable Housing
Women are disproportionately affected by the housing shortage crisis in NSW. For many women in NSW it is a struggle to attain appropriate and affordable housing.
WEL NSW's Women and Housing Policy (2020)
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: Housing and older women's well-being (2017)
Women's Refuges
Women’s refuges save lives. Australia needs a national funding program for women’s refuges to ensure women and children escaping family and domestic violence have a safe haven and access to specialist services to enable them to rebuild their lives.
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: What actions are needed to protect women and girls from harassment and violence (2017)
WEL's Women's Refuges Policy (2015)
Reproductive Health Care
WEL believes women should have access to safe, affordable abortion and have autonomy over their bodies and their reproductive choices at all times.
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: Reproductive Health (2017)
WEL NSW's Reproductive Health Care Policy (2015)
Pay Equity
The gender pay gap in men’s favour is a persistent fact in Australia, with men on average continuing to out earn women when comparing their average weekly full-time earnings.
WEL's Pay Equity Policy (2019)
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: Fair Work (2017)
Education and Training
Schooling and Vocational Education (2019)
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: How can we improve gender equality within and through education and training? (2017)
Children's Services/Child Care
With record numbers of Australian children enrolled in children’s services, WEL considers access, quality and affordability of children’s services to be a key issue for women across Australia.
Childcare Policy (2019)
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: Early Childhood Education (2017)
WEL's Children's Services Policy (2013)
Women's Health
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: What needs to be done to promote women's health and wellbeing? (2017)
Retirement Income and Superannuation
All retirees are entitled to an adequate income that allows decent living and security. Women live longer, generally earn less over their paid work life cycle, and contribute more unpaid care over their lifetime. Therefore their contributions to the superannuation system are far less than most men; on average one third of men’s.
WEL's Submission to Retirement Incomes Review (2020)
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: Superannuation (2017)
WEL's Working for Women Policy (2013)
Paid Parental Leave
A payment linking workers’ caring roles with employment, and having them made through the usual workplace mechanisms, fosters an ongoing commitment to and connection with the work place, benefiting both employees and employers.
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: What strategies do we need to ease the strain of balancing work and caring responsibilities? (2017)
WEL's Paid Parental Leave Policy (2013)
Flexibility and Job Security
Caring is crucial to the social and economic fabric of Australia. Flexible working arrangements are central to working carers’ attempts to combine work and care.
WEL's Submission - Setting the Agenda: What strategies do we need to ease the strain of balancing work and caring responsibilities? (2017)
WEL's Flexibility and Job Security Policy (2016)