Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Chandler for this very important question. Supporting Australian women to be entrepreneurs, to start a business and to take part in the workforce is a focus of this Morrison government. We know that getting more women into work gives women economic security in life and closes the gender pay gap. That's why the Morrison government recently announced it's providing $3.5 million to Grameen Australia.

Using its proven models that have worked so well overseas, Grameen will establish and deliver an innovative program to create entrepreneurial opportunities for unemployed women. The program invites participants to join small peer support groups and offers mentoring, training and access to loans and savings programs to support them as they establish their own small businesses. This initiative will create new self-employment opportunities. It will also boost financial literacy and workforce skills for Australian women. Micro-enterprise development allows women to become their own boss, offering flexibility and choice for women who have so much talent and skill to offer in the workforce. This program specifically will empower women, helping them to build their careers, but it will also provide flow-on benefits to the Australian economy. It's incredibly impressive to see Grameen using innovative measures to help women establish their businesses while providing wraparound services to ensure that women have the support available to take this very significant step in their working lives and in their careers. This very exciting new program will initially be delivered in my home state of Victoria in the suburb of Broadmeadows, before extending to other locations across Australia.