While it’s laudable that so much attention has been focused on the treatment of women by a minority of people – blokes who, by their depraved conduct, let the side down – perhaps this is a good time to think about real change that can be brought forward.
Let’s not leave the cutting of the prosperity gap as a task for a future generation. For years now we’ve been hearing of older women in the rental market who’re struggling to put food on the table. Many women also suffer financially due to their loss of years used for childrearing. Years out of work due to the need to look after kids. Superannuation at retirement lower than men. No ownership of the home.
Poverty after fifty-five can be particularly galling for women who’ve contributed to society in all manner of ways only to find themselves trying to pay the rent out of their pension. It pushes people away from major urban collectives to the fringes in rural and regional Australia – where services are not as good as they are in the cities.
Let the government do something with all this negative animus, this sea of vituperation stemming from Christian Porter’s past and the current backlash. It’s not necessary to wait for an inquiry. If we admit to ourselves that we need to do more to ensure that women are properly provided for we can offset the years out of work by passing laws that make sure that they’re not left behind in the race for economic security that we all run.
Childcare can be another provision better compensated-for by the government. It makes sense, in any case, to ensure that women are able to work. More people working means higher tax receipts. And childcare workers also pay income tax on earnings, so it all goes back into consolidated revenue.
Can’t be hard to do good where there’s so much dissatisfaction in the community.
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