Government prioritises cars over childcare: female entrepreneurs
Working mothers have been dismissed by the Federal Budget, according to several female small business owners.
When asked how the Federal Budget is supporting working families, Senator Nick Sherry, federal minister for small business pointed towards the latest initiatives towards helping unemployed people find jobs in the workforce.
“One of the important things for families is to make sure they’ve got a job. If they want one, they’ve got one,” he told Smarter Business Ideas. “The unemployment rate is forecast to drop down to 4.5%, which is close to full employment which is good for families. It’s also good for business - if people have a job, they have money to spend.”
However, Yolanda Vega, CEO of the Australian Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry is unconvinced.
“Although we welcome the $5,000 instant tax write-off to be provided to small business for motor vehicle and for immediate write-off on all assets valued at under $5,000 (up from $1,000 presently), this Budget has failed to recognise that one-third of business operators are women with children doing it tough,” she said in a media release.
“The fact that cars take priority over our children, is extraordinary and offensive to many women paying more for childcare than what they earn.”
Amy Lyden, advocacy ambassador with the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, was similarly unimpressed with the lack of government support for childcare.
“All legitimate child care should be tax deductible. This includes approved and registered daycare centres, nannies and so on. Families should have a right to decide the best option of care for their children,” she said. “Also, the child care rebate should be extended to registered child care and not limited to only approved child care.”
Lyden emphasised the point that making childcare tax-deductible is not just about supporting women, but also men and their families. Furthermore, the Government would benefit from the economic rewards of a workforce that helps more women return to their jobs, she said.
Meanwhile, Jodie Benveniste, director of Parentwellbeing.com, an online resource for parents, was hoping for the government to provide more incentives to help small businesses become more flexible in order to support working parents.
“Flexibility is really one of the best ways small businesses can help working parents. They can better manage their work at home and responsibilities and still contribute everything they want at work, but also take care of their families too,” she said.