Gender Equality Report Cards shows improvements for women

 New report cards show significant improvements for women in Queensland, as they strive for gender equality.

 Minister for Women Di Farmer said the 2017 Gender Equality Report Card highlighted four priority areas of the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016-21.

 “I’m really pleased to be able to say that these report cards show women now comprise 43 per cent of members of Queensland Government bodies as at 30 June 2017 compared to 37 per cent as at 27 January 2016,” she said.

 “Another significant improvement we have seen is a decrease in the number of women seeking government-funded specialist homelessness services due to domestic and family violence, which has gone from 76.4 per cent of all clients in 2013-14 to 73 per cent in 2015-16.”

 Ms Farmer said the State Government was committed to achieving gender equality in all aspects of Queensland society, and this would be further enabled through the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2016-21.

 “This strategy provides a framework for government, the private sector and the wider community to take significant action to achieve a Queensland that respects women, embraces gender equality and promotes and protects the rights, interests and wellbeing of women and girls,” she said.

 “And I’m pleased that across the four priority areas two are showing improvements, however there is always more work to be done in achieving true gender equality.”

 Ms Farmer said the report cards indicated that gender inequality persisted across all priority areas, as highlighted in the previous year.

 “Women comprise 47.5 per cent of all employees and were more than twice as likely as men to work part-time in March 2017,” she said.

 “Over time this can impact on their economic security.

 “Also, in every age group, on average, women had lower superannuation balances than men.

 "But what is really staggering is that women constituted 82.4 per cent of victims of sexual offences in 2015-16.”

 Ms Farmer said she would work to drive further improvements in next year’s report card.

 “Although we know improvements in gender equality will take time, I want to see next year’s report cards show more positive news to celebrate,” she said.

 “That’s why I will continue to collaborate with all Queensland sectors, as we work towards achieving gender equality together.”

 More information on the strategy and the implementation plan can be found at https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/womens-strategy/queensland-womens-strategy

 Media Contact: Adrian Taylor 0448 994 172