This Budget continues to build on the Government's sound economic policies and taxation reforms. This strong platform, together with social policies such as increased assistance to mothers and carers, offers women more opportunities, more choices and a greater ability to exercise those choices than ever before.

The number of women in our paid workforce has reached a record high, and women are closing the earnings gap with men. More young women are in education and training than ever before. In this Budget, initiatives focus on increasing access to education for all women. Specific initiatives range from areas where women are traditionally underrepresented-such as science and technology-through to measures focusing on nursing.

Women in community and volunteer activities, and those in paid work or undertaking study, have access to record levels of child care and access to parenting and other family payments. Tax reforms have delivered significant income tax cuts for families and reforms to superannuation are helping more women to plan for a secure retirement. The $1.7 billion Australians Working Together package now builds on the Government's commitment to strengthening Australia's social safety net, valued by all Australians as one of the key strengths of our society and, as such, is an important issue for women.

The Government is delivering on better health services for women. As well as the considerable foundations laid over the past few years, there are new measures that will improve women's access to services in both specific and general ways - including measures to increase the participation in the National Cervical Screening Programme to improve health services in rural and regional Australia, and to increase access to After Hours Emergency Care, as well as measures to assist older Australians and their health needs.

For Older Australians-the majority of whom are women-the Government has introduced a range of measures. These include a one off payment of $25,000 in recognition of Japanese-held Prisoners of War and civilian detainees and their widows/ers, restoring pensions for war widows/ers who remarried prior to 1984, expanding telephone and other concessions and a one-off payment to recipients of income support who are of Age Pension age.

The Government recognises that Australia's extensive cultural diversity requires specialised measures to meet the concerns of women from these backgrounds and has introduced a range of initiatives to promote a harmonious Australia.

Indigenous women are benefiting from measures to address family violence in a holistic manner, employment assistance and improved quality of, and accessibility to, legal services.

A key element of the Government's vision for women is to create a culture, an Australia, where women and children can live in environments that are free of violence. The Government is providing sound policies to build an Australia where women have support and choices in deciding the directions of their lives.

This Budget builds on the $50 million Partnerships Against Domestic Violence programme with a new $16.5 million national initiative to combat the alarming incidence of sexual assault in our communities.

Using a partnership approach between Commonwealth and State governments, service providers and communities, Partnerships Against Domestic Violence has shown practical and effective ways that we, as Australians, can act together to stop domestic violence. The national approach to combat sexual assault against women will also provide real results for Australian women.

There is also a package of measures in this Budget specifically designed to further promote and assist women to have their say in the development of Government policies and take on leadership roles in the community. Women's organisations will benefit from the establishment of a $5.6 million Women's Development Programme that extends Government support for organisations representing the diversity of Australian women and will encourage community contribution to Government policy discussion and formulation. The measure-which will bring the total Office of the Status of Women funding for women's development to $7.6 million over the next four years-will fund projects that are responsive to women's needs, again providing support for real and practical outcomes for Australian women.

The Government will provide $2.4 million over four years for the Women's National Leadership Initiative - extending current activities to increase the number of women in leadership roles in community spheres. A $5.5 million comprehensive information strategy will also make information about women and for women more accessible.

There is much for all Australian women in the 2001-02 Budget.

horizontal bar