Our economic growth, competitive advantage and future prosperity rests on our capacity to address workforce participation issues.

Increasing the workforce participation of women is one of our nation’s biggest economic and social opportunities.

Equally, ensuring we are maximising our talent and empowering women to advance in the workforce will be central to our nation’s success.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the collapse of Australia’s migration program.

While we understand the necessary and important decisions that were made early in the pandemic to close Australia’s borders, the long-term effect of the closed-border policy has resulted in significant labour market shortages – both in terms of skilled and unskilled workers.

Never has it been more important to ensure that every person in Australia who can work is working. Therefore, increasing women’s participation in the workforce is essential.

Building on current policies, we can increase the choices and opportunities available to women – making it easier for them to return to the workforce, secure new and better jobs, jobs with more hours and jobs that enable them to build on their careers and advance.

Huge gains are to be made if we can get the structural and policy settings right to increase women’s participation.

You can read our full women's budget statement here.