Federal Budget 2016: Treasurer Scott Morrison to woo women back to work

SCOTT Morrison will today unleash a charm offensive on Australian women in a Federal Budget aimed at wooing mums back to work and winning their vote in 60 days’ time.

SCOTT Morrison will today unleash a charm offensive on Australian women in a Federal Budget aimed at wooing mums back to work and winning their vote in 60 days’ time.

The Treasurer’s first Budget and foundation for the July 2 election will unlock billions of dollars to help women return to the workforce, provide flexible subsidised childcare, offer tax incentives for “mum-preneurs” and help better their retirement nest eggs.

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The pitch, to start today and build until the election, aims to lock in female voters, who were captured by Malcolm Turnbull but had been turned off by Tony Abbott.

The tactic comes just months after the Prime Minister declared “women hold up half the sky” and ”will hold up half of our economic future”.

There are more than two million women aged 15 to 64 not in paid work and supercharging female productivity by just 6 per cent could add about $25 billion to the nation’s bottom line.

The initiatives include:
●A multimillion-dollar re-skilling package for women who have been out of the workforce while raising children or caring for others.
● Billions of dollars for a childcare subsidy with new details of flexible arrangements allowing women to pay for the hours they need.
● Encouraging women to start new businesses through tax incentives.
● Helping to build women’s superannuation while they take time off to rear children.

While not commenting specifically about the Budget, Employment and Women’s Minister Michaelia Cash exclusively told The Courier-Mail women had to be part of the nation’s success story.

Minister for Employment Senator Michaelia Cash.

“Improving gender equality and female participation in the workforce is essential to boosting Australia’s productivity,’’ Senator Cash said.

Ana Fallah – soon to be a mother of three – says the Budget will be a key factor in determining when she returns to work.

The teacher has a son Badi, 1, and is pregnant with twins. Ms Fallah, 28, said financial constraints surrounding maternity leave meant she would have to return to work within a year, but childcare support did not exist to make it viable.

Originally published as Federal Budget 2016: Treasurer Scott Morrison to woo women back to work