Critical Times

The decision by the Rudd Government to remove funding from Working Women’s Centres has shocked the Australian Greens.

“Just yesterday we had the Government boasting about how better off working women were going to be under the new budget, yet at the same time they are cutting funding to the most disadvantaged working women” said Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson on employment and workplace relations.

“Working Women’s Centres (WWCs) are community based not-for profit organisations offering important advice on employment and workplace issues to women, particularly disadvantaged women – the women who are at most risk of social exclusion and should be front and centre of the new Government’s agenda,” she said.

“This is outrageous. It is what the Howard Government did to Employment Law Centres two years ago” said Senator Rachel Siewert.

The Government has told the remaining WWCs that they will not receive any more funding from future budgets – forcing these centres to shut down.

“Our workplace relations and employment laws are very complicated. With the ALP’s substantive changes to the Workplace Relations Act not coming into effect until 2010 the need for these support services is even more pressing,” said Senator Siewert.

“However, Julia Gillard seems prepared to leave vulnerable women workers without access to advice to negotiate these difficult and unfair laws.

This situation is made worse for those women caught up in the welfare to work regime which this new Government is not in a hurry to change.”

“There is enormous unmet need from people requiring appropriate advice on their employment entitlements and conditions. If this Government’s rhetoric about supporting vulnerable workers is to be believed it should be increasing funding to these types of services not closing them down” concluded Senator Siewert.

Senator Siewert is available for comment in Canberra today on 0407 725 025
For More Information:

Chris Twomey
Email: chris.twomey@aph.gov.au
Phone: 0407 725 025