Here we are, almost at the end of 2014, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed the best thing he has done for Australian women this year in his capacity as Minister for Women.
If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out what that might be, you wouldn’t be alone.
It seems even Abbott had to dig deep on this one.
When asked the question on breakfast TV this morning, he turned to the repeal of the carbon tax, which passed the Senate earlier this year.
He told Channel Nine’s Lisa Wilkinson that when it comes to women, it’s very important his government does the right thing by families.
“Women are particularly focused on the household budget and the repeal of the carbon tax means a $550 benefit for the average family,” he said.
Abbott also pushed the paid parental leave scheme he said he’s still committed to in 2015 – a policy that will now be managed by incoming Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison, along with childcare and our welfare system.
Leaving aside the problematic fact that our minister for women is actually a man, it’s concerning that he doesn’t seem to appreciate the basics of what women actually do and worry about on a day to day basis. Hint: it’s more than managing the household bills and groceries, and ever more than managing the domestic duties. Indeed, there would be many, many women who wouldn’t benefit, or perhaps couldn’t even care, about a $550 benefit for the average family. Some may have even preferred to keep paying a tax on carbon.
We actually think the best thing that this government has done for women in 2014 came yesterday, when he doubled the number of women in Cabinet.
And given that wasn’t particularly difficult – appointing Sussan Ley to health has brought the number of women on the frontbench up to a massive two – we can’t help but think that it hasn’t been the best year for women after all.
A good start for 2015 would be for our prime minister to resign as Minister for Women, and replace himself with somebody who’s actually qualified for the role.
Abbott lost a significant opportunity to replace himself in this position during his reshuffle yesterday. The fact he failed to do it cements just what this government has done for women in 2014 – very, very little.