Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Women, Senator Cash. I refer to the alarming rates of discrimination and sexual harassment that still occurs for women in the workplace, as well as the ongoing gender pay gap between women and men. I also refer to the Working Women's Centre in my home state of Queensland, as well as the other centres in South Australia and the Northern Territory, which provides support for vulnerable working women in the community through a free specialist employment service. Is the minister aware that federal funding for these working women's centres is due to cease from 30 June 2016?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for her question. The answer is yes, and I am currently considering it.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. In those considerations, can the minister ensure that the funding for working women's centres is maintained at current levels or more beyond 2016?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer you, obviously, to my previous answer.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer to the Abbott-Turnbull government's commitment to the gender participation target at the Brisbane G20. How can Australia meet this target when the government is still considering cuts to vital services which help women to remain in employment and in the workforce?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not agree with the premise of your question. This government is fundamentally committed in particular to increasing women's workforce participation and to meeting our G20 target. In fact, senators would be aware that it was under this coalition government that G20 leaders agreed that we all needed to do more to increase women's workforce participation. We have a clear plan in relation to increasing women's workforce participation, in particular in relation to our small business agenda, because, as we know, the number of women in small business in particular has been increasing over the last 10 years; our investment in particular in STEM, because we understand that, if we are going to decrease the gender pay gap, we have to get more young girls into those roles.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. Though I appreciate the comments that the minister is making, it would be useful if the working women's centres could be somehow addressed in her answer.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has been relevant to the answer. She indicated up-front that she did not accept the premise of the question. Minister, you have the call.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying to Senator Moore, we need to ensure that more young girls in particular have the opportunity to go into careers that are going to have those higher paid roles. In the same respect, though, many people often forget that we also need to encourage— (Time expired)