Senator FERRIS —I have a question for Senator Newman, the Minister for Social Security and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. To cap off a very strong year of achievements for Australian women, yesterday the government won passage of its equal opportunity for women in the workplace legislation. Can the minister remind the Senate of key Howard government achievements for women during this past 12 months?

Senator Hill —A good question.

Senator NEWMAN (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —It is a good question. Economic security is very important for Australia's women. Australian women are seeing the benefits of economic security coming from sound government economic policy. There are now almost 300,000 more women employed than there were in March 1996 when we came into government. Just think about that: there are more than 300,000 more Australian women employed under the coalition and its policies. The participation rate for working age women reached a record high of 65.8 per cent in September this year.

Today's figures show that the female unemployment rate reached another nine-year low of 6.6 per cent. Under Labor, female unemployment in May 1983 was 10.7 per cent. As Senator Ferris mentioned, just yesterday the government won passage of its equal opportunity for women in the workplace amendments. The new legislation implements our commitment to streamlining paperwork and enabling employers to focus on results for women rather than process, as we had under Labor.

The government supports the choice of women with young children to participate in work and education by allocating $5.3 billion for child care over the next four years. A low income family with two children in full-time care may receive almost $12,500 in subsidies from the taxpayer for child care. From July 2000, as part of tax reform the new child-care benefit will deliver increased assistance to families and a much simpler system. The $24 million return to work initiative will help parents or carers returning to the work force after taking time out. For the first time couples, upon marriage breakdown, will be able to split their superannuation to best meet the current and the future needs of both parties. That will help to protect the retirement living standards of older women, which were utterly ignored by the previous government.

The government has committed a total of $50 million to help prevent domestic violence. In the area of domestic violence we are focusing on preventing the harm done to children by being the witnesses of domestic violence, on the need for perpetrators to take responsibility to end their violence and, very importantly, on strengthening the grassroots and practical efforts to address indigenous family violence. In 1993 OSW undertook a review chaired by Senator Crowley. It criticised the women's grants program as making a minimal contribution to government policy making. Who can forget the grant to design women's surfboards? Some of us have been here long enough to remember the grant for women's surfboards.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senators on my left have been shouting persistently throughout this answer. Their behaviour is disorderly. Senators on my left will stop interjecting.

Senator NEWMAN —Senator Crowley's review recommended that operational grants of up to $100,000 be provided to national women's organisations. It was never done by Labor, and we have done it this year—$100,000 a year for three women's organisations. We have been the first government to give grants of that size to women's organisations because we want a rigorous, broadly based feedback from women and we want—

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! I point out to senators on my left that there is an appropriate time to debate the minister's answer, and that is after question time. Three or four of you have been constantly shouting all through the answer and this is not helping those listening to what is being said.

Senator NEWMAN —I am not surprised at the male chauvinists opposite shouting me down but I am surprised at women senators shouting me down. This government has been the first to give grants of that size to women's organisations. It is precisely because we do want rigorous and broadly based feedback from women and a strong voice for women that we have done so. We have provided over $1 million to women's organisations this year: $615,000 through OSW for 19 women's organisations and, in addition, over $460,000 by other mainstream departments to women's groups, such as nursing and single mothers, so that women's voices are heard not just in the girls' sandpit of OSW but also in the mainstream departments where they can influence policy. (Time expired)

Senator Hill —I think that's enough questions for this century, or even this millennium, because Labor clearly needs a break. Madam President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper .