A re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government is committed to ensuring all women and girls feel safe and can participate in economic, social, political and community life.

Today we commit to developing the third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan with fully-funded, evidence-based initiatives.

Since 2015, the Liberal Government has fully funded two comprehensive Plans, as well as investing an additional $56 million during COVID-19 for additional support.

We’ve also strengthened laws to bring perpetrators to account but we know there’s more to do, and that’s why a re-elected majority Liberal Government will;

Develop the third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan in consultation with the Family and Sexual Violence Consultative Group and people with lived experience;

Commission a feasibility study for a new Safe Emergency Accommodation facility in the Northern Midlands to better support women from rural areas; and

Strengthen non-fatal strangulation laws.

As well as feeling safe, it’s important that Tasmanian women feel inspired and empowered to participate because participating in the workforce is a major contributor to financial security and independence.

In recognition of this, our Government re-established the portfolio of Minister for Women, focussed on equity, access to opportunity and recognition for women.

Women’s representation on Government Boards and Committees has increased to 46.4 per cent into 2020, and women now make up 46.2 per cent of senior executive roles in the State Service – up from 29.7 per cent in 2015.

We will build on this work if re-elected by;

• Providing an additional $350,000 each year over the next three years to boost attraction, recruitment and retention of women in non-traditional fields;
• Partnering with all industries to develop a Modern Workplaces Framework to be a toolkit for industry to provide a safe workplace for women;
• Doubling funding for the Tasmanian Women in Leadership Scholarship Program to $100,000 per year and extending the program to 2024-25;
• Expanding funding for the International Women’s Day Small Grants Program, providing $20,000 each year over the next four years to support more events;
• Working with industry to develop a Women in Building and Construction Strategy, with $75,000 to help raise awareness of career options in the field; and
• Providing $25,000 to support a Tasmanian Girls in Property Pilot program in partnership with the Property Council of Australia, to assist more young women consider work in the sector.

These initiatives are in addition to the significant initiatives we are already implementing designed to ensure Tasmanian women feel safe, supported and empowered.

The full policy is available here.