LNP offers $20m assistance to get women back to work

LNP leader David Crisafulli will unveil one of his most significant policy announcements to date at an International Women’s Day event.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli with women’s economic security spokeswoman Amanda Camm

David Crisafulli has promised $20m to help women return to work after having children should he be elected premier in October, in one of his most significant policy announcements to date.

The Opposition Leader, set to speak at a major International Women’s Day event on the Gold Coast on Friday, said the multimillion-dollar Returning to Work package would offer grants up to $5000 to cover essentials such as workwear, childcare and retraining.

“Women should not be locked out of a job because they can’t afford the cost of jobseeking,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The costs of purchasing a computer to prepare a CV, clothes for interviews or covering childcare costs until they get re-established at work, are very real barriers to re-employment.

“The LNP’s Returning to Work package is key to removing barriers to re-employment through financial assistance for costs like childcare, technical recertification or relocation.

“Alarmingly, in a crippling cost of living crisis, the costs involved with employment has placed it out of reach for too many women.”

The $20m would be spent across four years and rolled out across the state should the LNP come to power, with the Opposition Leader saying the policy was part of the party’s Women’s Economic Security plan, and that he was committed to economic empowerment for women.

Opposition women’s economic security spokeswoman Amanda Camm

The government have attacked the LNP throughout this week’s parliamentary sitting – which has coincided with Queensland Women’s Week – over their record on supporting women and their lack of representation in the current opposition.

Labor have also made a number of women-led announcements, including free IVF for women who have undergone cancer treatments and a dedicated women’s health phone line.

Opposition women’s economic security spokeswoman Amanda Camm said the party was committed to supporting women, and the package would offer practical assistance.

“The LNP wants to break down financial barriers and help women take the next step to economic empowerment,” Ms Camm said.

“If a woman has left her employment for longer than six months to focus on being a full-time mum or carer, then we should do everything we can to support her when she chooses the time is right to find a new job.

“We will ‘count her in’ and restore the financial freedom and choice which has been stripped away by rising cost pressures on families.

“Only the LNP has the right priorities for Queensland’s future, including improving women’s economic security.”