Carol
BEAUMONT
Women’s Affairs Spokesperson
11 August 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

Labour – achieving change for Kiwi women

Working towards being a world leader in eliminating violence against women and children will be a priority for a Labour Government.

Releasing Labour’s Women’s Affairs policy today spokesperson Carol Beaumont said while Labour had a proud track record of achieving change for New Zealand women there was still more to do.

“We are committed to delivering for women because it is overwhelmingly women who are the victims of domestic and sexual violence. It is women who dip out in the income stakes and it is overwhelmingly women who feel they have to return to work earlier than they want to after becoming a parent.

“Labour will take decisive action to stop the unacceptable rates of violence against women and children. We want New Zealand to lead the world in doing that and will start by providing leadership from the Prime Minister down.

“It means adopting a collaborative, long-term Action Plan in consultation with other parties and the sector, ensuring greater resources for frontline support services, primary prevention and education, and reforming the justice system to better provide for survivors, including a review of the operation of protection orders.

“We will ensure that all women have full and equal access to opportunities to develop and progress in the workforce and in society.

“At the moment around 60 per cent of workers aged between 25 and 64 on the minimum wage are women. Labour will increase the minimum wage by $2 an hour to help address the gender pay gap.

“Our plan to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks will allow around 26,000 New Zealand families each year will have extra time with their new born babies.

“Labour stands for real equality, real opportunity and real choices for all women,” Carol Beaumont said.

Womens_policy.pdf

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