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The Greens welcome passage of the Bill to give employees access to 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. It is a long overdue reform that will save lives. 

But a lack of new funding in last night’s Budget means frontline response and prevention services will struggle to meet the expected increase in demand. 

Lines attributable to Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women

Labor’s Women’s Budget Statement outlines the problems women face, but offers very little when it comes to delivering the solutions women need.

On top of waiting years for half-measures on PPL and childcare, women are offered partial indexation rather than a funding boost for frontline services, while billionaires and big corporations get massive handouts and tax cuts.  

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters

The Greens welcome the announcement this week that the government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill will include new rules to end pay secrecy clauses to stop employees from discussing how much they get paid, something the Greens have previously sought to legislate for.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters

“Pay secrecy has been an ongoing contributor to the gender pay gap.

The Greens welcome the release of the new National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, but without additional funding or meaningful targets the ambitious plan is just words. 

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters

“The Greens have been fighting hard for progress on a National Plan for decades alongside victim-survivors, activists and women’s organisations.

The Greens welcome the Albanese government's announcement to extend Paid Parental Leave (PPL) to 26 weeks with shared care, but will continue to call on the government to increase it to be paid at a replacement wage, with super, and immediately.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters 

In the wake of Roe v Wade, the Australian Greens will today establish a Senate inquiry into abortion access in Australia. 

This inquiry will identify what can be done federally to alleviate the physical and financial barriers to accessing contraceptives, sexual and reproductive healthcare and termination services, as well as options to improve the quality and availability services, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters

The Australian Greens remain deeply concerned at the recent crackdown on dissent in Iran, with official reports of at least 22 protesters killed and more than 1,000 Iranians detained.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters

The Greens will introduce the Fairer Paid Parental Leave Bill to deliver 26 weeks of paid leave paid at replacement wage capped, with super paid on leave, and ‘use it or lose it’ incentives for partners to encourage shared parenting.

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters 

“Fairer paid parental leave is a no-brainer that benefits everyone - parents, children and the economy. And if we scrap the Stage 3 tax cuts, we can easily afford it.

The Greens welcome the joint agreement of business groups and unions, and support the ACTU and Business Council of Australia in urging the government to expand paid parental leave to 26 weeks.

The Greens’ PPL plan called for 26 weeks with payments that match salaries up to $100k pa, super paid on leave, and ‘use it or lose it’ incentives built in to encourage shared parenting, and we’re glad to see these groups coming onboard.