10. CAROL BEAUMONT (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Women's Affairs
As we prepare to celebrate Suffrage Day, what improved outcomes for New Zealand women can she point to as a result of initiatives by her Government?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Acting Minister of Women’s Affairs) Link to this
This Government has made a number of reforms that have led to improved outcomes for women. For example, we have made changes to our tax system that have seen the after-tax average wage increase 2 percent faster than inflation over the last year, and this has put money back into women’s pockets. We have also introduced police safety orders, which allow the police to remove an alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to 5 days. Over 5,000 of these orders have been issued since their introduction in July of last year, and over 80 percent of these orders have been issued to protect women.
What advice has she given the Prime Minister about his stated intention to “look closely at” the gender pay gap of 27.5 percent in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, or his commitment “to take action to deal with any pay discrimination” in response to a question about the significant pay gaps in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, the Ministry of Education, and Crown Law?
Far be it from me to give the Prime Minister any advice. I am sure that he is paying attention to that issue for himself. But I would point out that the gender pay gap has fallen from 13 percent in 2008 to 10.6 percent in 2010, and that is the lowest it has ever been.
Why has the Prime Minister moved from a goal committed to over 22 years, supported by both National and Labour Governments, and promoted by many, including former National Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, of having women make up 50 percent of appointments to Government-appointed statutory boards, to a goal of 43 percent, as she stated when discussing this year’s women’s affairs estimates?
It is my understanding that this Government has maintained the previous level of about 40 percent of the appointments being women.
What specific action is she taking in light of the UN Women report In Pursuit of Justice: Progress of the World’s Women 2011-12, which states that New Zealand has the highest rates of physical and sexual violence against women in the OECD?
Can I refer the member back to the answer that I gave to the primary question. We introduced the police safety orders, of which there have been 5,000 issued since July of last year, and over 80 percent of those were issued to protect women.
Which of these changes affecting New Zealand women does she believe to be the most worthy of celebrating on Suffrage Day this year: scrapping the pay and employment equity unit; passing the fire-at-will bill, which disproportionately affects women; cutting successful family violence prevention programmes and creating uncertainty for the Girls’ Self Defence Project; or decreasing the number of women in leadership positions, as highlighted by the New Zealand Census of Women’s Participation 2010?