PM Transcripts

Aim
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 20 August 1985
EMBARGOED UNTIL 8.00 PM
The 1985-86 Budget again reflects the Government's
continuing commitment to enhancing the status of women.
All Departments were required to ensure that decisions
made in the Budget were made with full knowledge of
their impact on women. This role was complemented by
the close involvement of the Office of the Status of
Women in the Budget process.
In brief, women will benefit from the following Budget
initiatives: the expenditure of $ 149.4 million on child care,
including $ 4.9 million towards the planned
implementation over three years of an additional
20,000 child care places.
a package of social security benefit increases from
which low income women will be major beneficiaries.
the extension of measures for the care of the aged
and handicapped, women being the larger group of
both carers and beneficiaries.
increases in student allowances, and the provision
of a new integrated range of youth policies; both
particularly important in view of young women's
lower participation in post-school education and
higher unemployment rates.
In the House of Representatives tonight I tabled this
year's edition of the Women's Budget Program document.
That document lists fully the details of the initiatives
in the Budget which will benefit women. Also, for the
first time, it provides a comprehensive assessment of
the programs and activities of all Departments, and many
other Commonwealth agencies, from the viewpoint of their
impact on women.