If only progress for women was something that could be sustained.
We’d have close to equal numbers of male and female leaders in business, politics and across the community. The number of women killed as a result of violence would be decreasing, as opposed to increasing, and policies supporting workplace equality would be improving.
That is, sadly, not what’s currently happening in Australia. There have been a few wins in the first half of 2015 for women.
So here, exactly halfway through the year, are a few facts and figures regarding where we stand.
Violence
Women are continuing to be killed as a result of violence (particularly domestic violence) at an alarming rate. So far this year, 48 women have been killed by violence in Australia, according the Counting Dead Women researchers on behalf of Destroy the Joint. In comparison, there were a recorded 84 women killed by violence during the full 12 months of 2014. Meanwhile, Homelessness Australia has found an additional $68 million in government funding is needed in order to prevent 3000 domestic violence victims being turned away from crisis accommodation – there is nothing currently slated to provide this. However, there’s something positive to be seen in the increasing interest from the media in covering such violence, as well as the excellent progress Australian of the Year Rosie Batty is making in keeping the issue of domestic violence on the national agenda.
The gender pay gap
The national pay gap between men and women working full-time is now at 18.8%, according to ABS stats analysed by the Workplace Gender Equality Authority in May. That sees the average man working full-time earning an average $298.10 a week more than the average woman working full-time. It’s at its highest in Western Australia (25.7%), and in the financial and insurance services industries (where it’s 29.6%). Earlier this year, WGEA also released data finding the pay gap between men and women in management is up to a shocking 45%.
Women in Cabinet
In the final weeks of 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott managed to double the number of women in cabinet by appointing just one extra women, Sussan Ley in the health portfolio. So, while it’s progress on 2014, it’s a difficult one to celebrate. Women still only make up a touch over 10% of the Abbott government’ ministry. There are plenty more “knocking at the door”.
General support services cuts
As of today, a number of key support services for women have had their funding cut, including the National Perinatal Depression Initiative, which gives support to women suffering depression before or after the birth of a child. The Abbott government has also cut millions of dollars in funding for frontline domestic violence support services, as well as a number of women’s legal services across the country.
Australia, and the rest of the world
In 2014, Australia was the worst performing country in the OECD for women at work, dropping six places to the 15th position in the PwC Women in Work Index that ranks female economic empowerment. We suspect that this year, the results may be even worse, especially since our gender pay gap has increased ever further. Australia currently ranks number 1 in the world for educating women but just 52nd for workforce participation.
Paid parental leave
Abbott’s great big, generous paid parental leave scheme has been shelved. Long gone is the ‘Rolls Royce’ scheme that included a full replacement wage for six months. Instead, the Abbott government has outlined new rules for PPL that would see new parents receiving paid leave from their employer that’s equal or more than the full $11,500 on offer from the government, lose the government payment altogether. Worse, at the time of the announcement, women who’ve previously taken such entitlements were described as “double dippers”. When it comes to working mothers, we can only assume the Abbott government has given up on attempting to please this segment of the population.
Women on ASX 200 boards
Some (slightly) good news here. The percentage of women on boards is now at 19.9%, according to the Australian Institute of Companies Directors. That’s its highest point in history, and up from 19.3% at the same time in 2014. However, 33 ASX 200 boards still do not have a woman on their boards and women have accounted for just 26% of new appointments to date, compared with 30% of new appointments in 2014. The AICD has recently called for all corporate boards to be 30% female by the end of 2018, and has urged companies to regularly report on their progress.
Women on government boards
We were seeing significant progress for women on government boards, thanks to the previous government’s Boardlinks program. However, some of this progress has declined. According to Women on Boards figures released in March this year, the representation of women on Federal boards has declined by 0.8%, down 3.2% for women on WA state-owned corporations, and down a massive 13.6% for women on QLD state-owned corporations.