The Government’s attempt at winning back female support with its women’s economic statement today will fail for its lack of funding and lack of vision, Greens spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters said.

“The women’s economic security statement by the Women’s Minister today contains only minor reforms and pittance of new funding - it equates to a mere four cents per week for adult Australian women. Four cents a week will not fix anything for Australian women. 

The latest scorecard from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows an alarming continuation of the gender pay gap that won’t be closed for decades, Greens spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters said.

“We’ve still got a 16.2 per cent gap in what men and women get paid - it’s clearly still far better to be a bloke in this country when it comes to salary,” Senator Waters said. 

“There has been a small, welcome decline overall, but the fact men still earn $25000 more every year on average than women is outrageous.

Greens spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters, says the Senate Inquiry into the Government’s Family and Domestic Violence Leave Bill cemented the urgent need to give workers 10 days paid leave.

Scrap the tampon tax, increase funding for frontline domestic violence services and deliver 10 days’ paid DV leave, is Greens spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters' wish list ahead of meetings tomorrow which could alter the future of Australian women, children and trans people.

Tomorrow:

The Greens will move to amend the Government’s bill introduced into the Lower House today for five days unpaid family and domestic violence leave, to give workers 10 days paid leave.

“We acknowledge the government’s small step forward on this but it fails to recognise the needs of victims and won’t actually help keep women safe,” Greens spokesperson for women Senator Larissa Waters said.

“Australia is experiencing a domestic violence crisis and the government should be helping women, not adding insult to injury by denying them paid leave to get safe.

Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters is returning to federal Parliament following the confirmation of her appointment as a Senator for Queensland by the Queensland State Parliament. 

Today’s reappointment filled the vacancy created by Andrew Bartlett, who stepped down from the Senate role he filled after Sen. Waters resigned over section 44, to contest the lower house seat of Brisbane at the next federal election. 

Senator Waters will be the first section 44'd Senator to return to the seat to which she was originally elected.

Evidence today to the Senate Education and Employment Committee from academic experts about the gender pay gap has revealed a concerning trend that some employers are using “pay gag clauses” against women challenge unequal pay.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson on women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Evidence today from witnesses suggested that ‘pay gag clauses’ are being enforced by 50 – 90% of private sector organisations according to forthcoming studies. 

The Australian Greens have introduced a motion that will allow the Senate to condemn the racist and sexist comments made by Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump.

Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale said, "Donald trump has once again shown himself to be a sexist and racist pig who is completely unfit for office.