Pathways and Processes towards a Gender Equality Policy

All aspects of government action and policy have gender implications. The federal Office for Women has identified three areas of focus for
Australian Government policy on gender: (1) women’s safety from violence; (2) representation of women, for example on decision-making boards and in politics; and (3) economic empowerment. This volume presents new and important research about gender inequality in Australia’s tax-transfer (welfare) system, including theoretical, empirical and policy analysis of this theme. The research in this volume aligns in particular with the goal of women’s economic empowerment, which is highlighted by the Office for Women as ‘an economic and social priority. It’s good for women and their families, their communities, business and the nation’s economy’ (Office for Women 2016). The Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash, has emphasised policies to support women at the G20 (Cash 2014) and, in particular for parenting and domestic violence, in a statement accompanying the 2017–18 Budget (Cash 2017). However, gender impact remains marginalised in Australia’s budget. The most recent Budget Papers (Treasury 2017) do not contain any gender impact analysis of policy