Page 92 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
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economic factors into the policy development cycle and ensures that these decisions are informed by assessments of all potential impacts, including those impacts on women.
Despite this focus and the significant improvements to the status of women in the ACT, it is clear that gender inequality persists. Through the ACT women’s plan for 2016-26, the ACT government is driving targeted outcomes to support women and girls in our community. The first action plan for 2017-19 was launched in March last year, following extensive consultation with all directorates, the community sector and the Ministerial Advisory Council on Women, and promotes gender equity, wellbeing and the physical and mental health of women and girls. It is the first part of the three action plans which will be developed from the ACT women’s plan and is a key driver for a specific focus on gender equity and for improving the way that we develop and inform policy and legislation to better support the needs of girls and women.
Included as an action in the first plan is to research and develop appropriate gender impact statements for use across all directorates. This will be complemented by an action to review past training modules on gender impact statements and develop recommendations for whole-of-government implementation. In addition, the government will be collecting and analysing gender disaggregated data for ACT government services, programs and events, including analysis of the types of programs and events that women are more likely to attend. The government will also establish a central repository of relevant gender-based research for use across government policy development.
Under this plan, we are working to ensure that women are valued and empowered contributors to the ACT community and the public service. We have committed to holding biannual forums between the government and the community to support collaboration and improved engagement, and we held the second of these forums just yesterday. Key members of the ACT government and community organisations came together to share inspirational stories and details of their experience implementing practical solutions that have resulted in positive outcomes for women. The forum also considered the ways in which these activities could be applied to other community, business and government practices.
The ACT government is committed to ensuring that women in the ACT and the community sector are encouraged to be active participants in developing policy and in decision-making processes. We are also committed to ensuring that we have the data and knowledge base to support gender equality and that the impacts on women and girls are thoroughly considered.
The ACT government has made significant improvements in this area. The reduction in our gender pay gap and the representation of women in leadership positions far exceeds the national average. As at October 20l7, the ACT had the largest percentage of women holding positions on government boards and committees, at 45 per cent. This is an excellent result, a product of tangible measures taken by the ACT government, mandating that all ACT boards and committees consult with the ACT office for women, to ensure gender balance when appointing members.
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