Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator McAllister, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted women's economic security:

(A) in April over half a million Australians lost their jobs, of which 55 per cent were women,

(B) women's underemployment ratio now sits at an unprecedented 16 per cent, compared to 14 per cent for men, and

(C) modelling has estimated that more than 200,000 women casual workers in the accommodation, food services, and retail trade sectors alone will miss out on the JobKeeper wage subsidy;

(ii) women typically retire with half the superannuation balance of men and, if they choose to withdraw funds, women will suffer a significantly greater impact on their retirement income than men,

(iii) Australian women have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis in Australia in underpaid and undervalued roles:

(A) women account for 87 per cent of registered nurses and midwives,

(B) women account for 87 per cent of aged care workers, and

(C) women account for 96 percent of early childhood educators, and

(iv) as a result of COVID-19, mothers are spending an extra hour each day on unpaid housework and four extra hours on childcare; and

(b) calls on the Morrison Government to recognise that women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and address women's interests in their recovery plans.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Women are making a significant contribution to the COVID-19 response and recovery. Women are on the frontlines making up the majority of employees in essential services like healthcare and education. The government is closely monitoring the economic effects from the coronavirus on all Australians, including women, noting that the full effects remain uncertain. Australia is going to need everyone's full capabilities—men and women—to accelerate our overall recovery as a society and as an economy.

Question agreed to.