On International Women’s Day the Andrews Labor Government is progressing gender equality in all areas where Victorians live, work, learn and play.

International Women’s Day 2018 comes on the heels of an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.

This year’s theme #PressForProgress is a call to action to press forward and progress women’s equality in the face of those that resist it.

In Victoria we’re pressing ahead with a raft of reforms to tackle gender inequality. This includes:

• Implementing 20 days of paid family violence leave in the Victorian Public Service
• Investing a record $1.9 billion to stop the scourge of family violence, the largest investment by any Australian government in history
• Establishing Victoria’s most comprehensive blueprint for women’s equality Safe and Strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy.
• Identifying the Public Sector Gender Pay Gap and implementing policies to close it.
• Creating the Women@Work conference – a day of action targeting businesses and employers to close the gender pay gap.

The Government understands that gender equality does not happen overnight. There is still a lot of work to do in order to achieve a fairer and more equal society for women across the state, the nation and the world.

With global activism for women’s equality fuelled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more – there has never been a stronger global momentum behind gender equality.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins

 “Beyond work and economic security, we are continuing to press for progress for gender equality in all areas where Victorians live, work, learn and play.”

“We know that gender equality does not happen overnight. So this year I encourage you to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and press for progress for women everywhere. The time is now.”