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Report Card - Going Backwards
Report Card - Going Backwards
Going backwards
Going backwards
Report on the status of women in NSW after Two years of the OFarrell Government
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
Introduction
Message from Linda Burney, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Life is getting harder for women under the OFarrell Government. If youre a mother with a sick child, youre waiting longer to see a surgeon or a doctor thanks to Mr OFarrells $3 billion cut from our hospitals. Your childs school is affected by $1.7 billion in statewide cuts. In 2013, Catholic and independent schools have been forced to raise fees by up to six per cent. Preschool places are also getting harder to find. After two years in office, Mr OFarrell is increasingly remote from the needs of women. Its obvious from his harsh budget cuts, his indifference to rising gun crime and domestic violence even his sexist language in the Parliament. The women of NSW deserve better. I encourage you to read this document and find out more.
Message from Sophie Cotsis, Shadow Minister for the Status of Women
Last year I released the first Going Backwards Report, which documented the OFarrell Governments failure to implement policies to improve the status of women. Another year on, we continue to see policies that make life harder. Cutting funding to education means women have fewer opportunities to upskill at TAFE. Cutting funding to hospitals means compromising womens care. Eroding public sector working conditions is tailored to hurt women given they comprise 60 per cent of this workforce. Incredibly, in 2011-12, funding was frozen to a major NSW program tackling domestic violence. When it comes to womens policy, the OFarrell Government has a lot to answer for.
March 2013 Authorised by Sophie Cotsis MLC, NSW Parliament. No taxpayer funds used for the design of this document. For more information visit www.nswalp.com
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
The Health Minister has shown how out of touch she is with the problem of forcing nurses to pay $10,000 to re-enter the health system:I cant see how there is a problem.
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
Hypocrisy:
Minister for Women Pru Goward described learning a trade as a great career option for women then voted for TAFE fee increases.
Supporting girls and women into these trades makes good financial sense for them and for the NSW economy which is experiencing a trade skills shortage. Women NSW, 2012
www.women.nsw.gov.au
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
The OFarrell Government should feel ashamed that it froze funding to a major domestic violence program instead of helping our communitys most vulnerable.
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
MALE 60%
Mr OFarrell routinely uses demeaning, sexist language in the NSW Parliament against any female who dares to challenge him. In each case, he is failing to behave as an appropriate role model.
40%
FEMALE
In just two years, Mr OFarrell has Called Deputy Labor Leader Linda Burney a hooker and a witch; Likened Kristina Keneally, the first female Premier of NSW, to US celebrity Kim Kardashian; Likened Shadow Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt to a whining dog; Been caught winking at women across the parliamentary chamber.
Daily Telegraph, 6 January 2013
Mr OFarrell has only appointed five female Cabinet Ministers down from seven under Labor.
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
After the election: As the Premier has said, these trade-offs are a perfectly acceptable part of industrial relations.
Pru Goward, Hansard Thursday 26 May 2011
Maternity at work
The 2012 Maternity at Work report was publicised not by the Minister for Women but the NSW Labor Shadow Minister. This report provides families with the latest information on parental leave, flexible working arrangements and occupational health and safety issues. The OFarrell Governments failure to bring this document to the publics attention demonstrates a complete lack of concern for new parents.
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards
No answer on tackling breast cancer Q: Does the Government have a plan, if any, in
working towards increasing the rate of women screened for breast cancer aged 50-69 years from 53 per cent?
No strategy to encourage girls to study science and maths Q: 33 per cent of girls HSC course completions
are in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, compared to 44 per cent of course completions by boys. Does the Government have a strategy in place to target girls from an early age to pursue studies, and ultimately careers, in non-traditional fields?
A: This question should be referred to my No answer on workplace sexual harassment Q: Does the Government have a policy on sexual harassment in the workplace? If so, under that policy how can a victim of sexual harassment make a complaint, and what support is provided to them? A: This question should be referred to the
Department of Premier and Cabinet colleague the Hon. Adrian Piccoli, Minister for Education.
NO PLAN FOR REGIONAL WOMENS JOBS Q: What is the Government doing to address the
average 1.8 per cent decline of employment rates in NSW regions for women since the peak of the Global Financial Crisis?
colleague the Hon. Mike Baird, Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations.
Report on the status of women in NSW after two years of the OFarrell Government
Going backwards