Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I thank Senator Seselja for his question, because these are very important statistics. Most recent data released by the ABS showed that the women's labour force participate rate continues to be lower than men's in Australia. At the moment we have figures which show us that 57½ per cent of mothers with children under five years are participating in the labour force, compared to 94 per cent of men with children of the same age. That figure changes quite dramatically, though, to 78 per cent of women once their children hit school age. It is concerning data but, at this stage, not that surprising.

The Productivity Commission's draft report found that 'the affordability of child care was the most commonly reported barrier to workforce participation for parents with children under five years old'.

Senator Lines interjecting—

It also showed that a substantial number of women working in front-line jobs are being forced to return to a nine-to-five desk job. (Time expired)