Gender equality in Queensland is front and centre of a new strategy to be developed by the Palaszczuk Government focussing on the economic security; safety; and health of women and girls across the state.
With the Queensland Women's Strategy 2016-21 coming to an end this year, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said it was time to build on the work done to date in addressing ongoing economic and social inequality faced by Queensland women.
"When we launched the Queensland Women's Strategy 2016-21, we outlined our vision that the Queensland community respects women, embraces gender equality and promotes and protects the rights, interests and wellbeing of women and girls," Minister Fentiman said.
"A lot has changed since we released the current strategy, and it's time to once again seek the views and experiences of women from communities right across our state to shape the government's priorities now and into the future," Minister Fentiman said.
"COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women's social and economic security, and we know they have been more vulnerable to domestic, family and sexual violence during the pandemic.
"We need to ensure this strategy finds solutions to the ongoing impacts created from this pandemic as well as continuing to look at ways to eliminate harassment of women in the workplace and broader society, and addressing the gender pay gap."
Minister Fentiman said the current women's strategy had made significant achievements over the last five years, particularly in the promotion of women's rights, leadership, and efforts to end domestic and family violence (DFV) in the community.
"Since the introduction of the current strategy Queensland has led the nation, becoming the first state to legislate 10 days' paid DFV leave for Queensland Government employees," Minister Fentiman said.
"In 2018 the Queensland Government passed historic laws so that Queensland women can now legally access termination of pregnancy services, removing it from the criminal code.
"And we made a commitment to achieve gender parity on Queensland Government Boards which we achieved early in 2019. It shows what can be done with commitment to change and we can now encourage industry to do the same."
Minister Fentiman said the consultation will start with an online survey which will be open to the public until the end of September. The information gathered will help shape a new Queensland Women's Strategy, which will be launched later in 2021.
The opportunity to provide feedback on a new women's strategy closes on 8 October 2021.
The new Queensland Women's Strategy 2021-26 is expected to be completed later this year.
