President of Chief Executive Women Sam Mostyn has been appointed by the Albanese government to chair its Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.
The taskforce will give advice to the federal government on a number of issues affecting women and will help develop the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality.
Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher announced Mostyn’s appointment to the role ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit, which is now underway.
“I am so pleased that this taskforce will be chaired by Sam Mostyn, who is also going to facilitate this panel,” Senator Gallagher said in her opening remarks at the Summit.
Senator Gallagher used her speech to stress the Albanese government’s stated commitment to gender equality and noted that more than 50 per cent of the participants at the Jobs and Skills Summit are women.
“The Albanese government aims to restore Australia’s leadership in gender equality by building on our ambitious plan for women,” she said.
“This summit is an example of that objective. Right from the beginning the Treasurer and his team ensured that this summit itself had a gender equality lens and I’m pleased to say that more than 50 per cent of the participants here today are women. Women have a leading role in every session, and we are hopeful that gender equality and women’s economic equality is a feature of all of the sessions.”
Gallagher spoke about her personal commitment to ensuring gender equality is at the heart of the Albanese government’s agenda.
“The prime minister has given me the portfolios of women, finance and the public service. This puts gender equality at the heart of government. It’s a unique opportunity and one that we will use to drive change,” she said.
“This summit represents a huge opportunity to agree that women’s economic equality is a core economic imperative that is crucial to our economic resilience and prosperity. As a country we simply can’t afford to leave women’s talent on the shelf. If women’s workforce participation matched men, we would increase GDP by 8.7 per cent or $353 billion by 2050.
“We should be looking at how we unlock the talent and potential of Australian women and remove barriers for all of them. We have a big task ahead but we also have a momentum, and I believe, a shared commitment.
“To Sam, I’m really excited to work with you in your new role as chair of the women’s economic equality taskforce. Thank you for agreeing to take on that role.”
Mostyn is also chairing a panel on equal pay and opportunities for women on Thursday morning at the Jobs and Skills Summit.