Climate Risks Are Above Politics. Families Deserve Urgent Action

“Climate Change Risks’: Report on the National Climate Risk Assessment report”

By Wendy Rainbird, September 2025.

Changing hazards

“Australia’s climate is changing and will continue to change into the future. The country is likely to experience more intense and extreme climate hazards, and in some cases in areas where people and places haven’t experienced these hazards before.

Climate science indicates that our future extreme weather is likely to differ significantly from the past. Changes in the timing, duration, intensity and spatial patterns of hazards are likely, with many events occurring more frequently, in  combination or affecting new locations.

The change in distribution, timing and severity of extreme weather events means that historical observations on their own are not likely to be a good indicator of future risk.

Australia currently experiences compounding and cascading hazards, and this is going to increase.

Concurrent events, and reduced time between severe events will become more common.”(Ref. https://www.acs.gov.au/pages/national-climate-risk-assessment)

Risks to people

“Individuals and households already disadvantaged are the most vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. Actions that address underlying disadvantage can reduce the impacts of climate change.” (My comment: in many cases this will impact women and girls.)

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will experience unique impacts from climate change. The changing climate threatens the health of Country, access to Country and could challenge self-determination and have flow-on impacts on their social and physical health and wellbeing.

Extreme heat, floods, bushfires, poor air quality and communicable diseases will escalate health risks. Those with pre-existing health conditions, including mental ill-health, are most at risk. This includes the very young and our older populations. People who work outdoors will also be at increased risk.”(opcit)

“The loss of as many as 2.7 million work days a year in sectors like mining, construction and agriculture where work can’t safely be done during extreme weather”

Risks to places

“Climate impacts are experienced differently across Australia. There are several key areas that have been identified as watchpoints:

Sea level rise and increased coastal hazards will significantly impact coastal communities and cities. By 2050, the number of coastal communities located in high and very high risk areas nationally will increase. If populations remained as they are today, this would equate to >1.5 million people living in areas that will experience sea level rise and coastal flooding risks by 2050.

Northern Australia is likely to experience escalating challenges as its proneness to hazards increases as the global temperature rises. This will put pressure on health, critical infrastructure, natural species and ecosystems, and primary industries. It will also pose additional challenges to emergency responders.

Outer urban areas of cities stand out as watchpoints. These areas are particularly susceptible to adverse impacts because of their circumstances (location, demographics, proneness to hazards).

Remote communities are vulnerable today due to limitations in power and telecommunications supply and weak supply chains. This vulnerability will increase as critical infrastructure and supply chains face increased disruptions.”

(Ref. Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment: An Overview | 2025p.iii)

“Women care about their children and grandchildren and

would see the need for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

to avoid making the risks worse.”

Risks to our way of life

“Extreme events will affect some communities more than others. High-risk communities are likely to experience domestic migration, which in turn could disrupt local economies, social networks, traditional identities and cultural heritage.

An escalation of risks in one system is highly likely to have a ripple effect across sectors, services and structures. Extreme events will lead to property damage, increased insurance costs and even loss of homes, particularly in coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise and erosion. These impacts will contribute to the cost of living, placing further stress on household budgets.

Australians will be impacted by loss of important ecosystems and species by the middle of the century, without implementing direct intervention and adaptation actions. Ecosystems provide clean air and water, food security through pollination, raw materials for medicines, natural disaster protection, and regulate the local climate. Australia’s plants and animals have evolved to fit their local climatic conditions.

More frequent and more intense extreme events will affect the way of life in different ways across Australia – from impacts to sport and recreation, to unreliable infrastructure, like energy sources during heatwaves. There will be additional pressure on emergency responders and defence resources. Increased severe floods and bushfires will degrade water quality, placing pressure on already limited water sources.”(opcit)

“The risk of vector-borne diseases (e.g. malaria and dengue fever) will rise as temperatures, rainfall, and floods increase, straining the healthcare system.(opcit p.iv)

Crop yields will decrease with more drought (e.g. southwest Western Australia) and increased susceptibility to fire (e.g. southern and eastern Australia).”p.iv

Water availability and accessibility for towns, ecosystems and agriculture may become limited due to rising evapotranspiration in inland regions and changes in annual rainfall.”p.iv

What we need to do

These are quotes from the National Risk Assessment, and are not all that is in the Risk Assessment.

They are serious enough and we need to be informed, and putting aside party politicking, “take urgent action to combat climate change.” SDG 13

Women care about their children and grandchildren and would see the need for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid making the risks worse.

National Councils of Women in Australia are apolitical, and these risks are above politics because we care about our families and the risks are so serious.

The report can also be viewed HERE

2025 Report on Family and Children Issues: Key Challenges and Solutions

By Loreta Kelbauskaite – Serpyte, Child and Family Advisor, ICW

Families are at the heart of individual well-being and societal stability, yet in 2025, they continue to face significant challenges shaped by economic, political, and social factors. This year’s report highlights the most pressing issues affecting children and families worldwide, aligning with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As 2025 progresses, it is clear that families worldwide need stronger policies and support to thrive. Addressing these issues is essential to creating a future where every child and caregiver has the opportunity to live with dignity, security, and equality.

Click on the link to read the document  –  2025 Report on Family and Children Issues

International Women’s Day Statement 2025.

To All National Council of Women Australia Members and Friends,

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, the National Council of Women Australia (NCWA) proudly joins UN Women Australia in embracing the theme March Forward, marking 30 years since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Since 1995, women have broken barriers, reshaped policies, and ignited powerful movements, yet systemic inequalities, economic disparities, and rising violence against women persist. The National Council of Women Australia remains steadfast in our commitment to achieving gender equality.

Read more – NCWA Statement IWD 2025 March Forward 

At the NCWA Triennial Conference on Thursday, 21 November 2024, NCWA RESOLVED to urge the Australian Government:

1. Deepfake Prevention  – To integrate gender responsive standards at every stage of AI development and deployment, ensuring that AI systems, including those capable of creating deepfakes, do not perpetuate harm, exploitation, or violence against women.
2. Ethical AI Guidelines – To develop and adopt ethical gender responsive AI guidelines with a gender lens. It is critical to integrate gender-responsive standards that ensure the impacts on women and girls are considered at every stage of AI design, development and deployment,
3. Gender Equity in Technology – To foster a technological landscape that is ethical, transparent, and equitable for women ensuring that technological advancements contribute positively to society, maximising perspectives of women and girls during the design and implementation stages.
4. Introducing a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme as soon as possible – To improve oral and dental health outcomes for older people in Australia by introducing a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme as recommended by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and that a timeline for this be developed as soon as possible.
5. Women’s Economic Sustainability must start in the Early Years – To provide funding for schools to take a transformative role in challenging gender stereotypes, beginning in the early years, and directly support girls to maintain participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) across all levels of schooling.

International Women’s Day 2024 – Statement from President Chiou See Anderson.

Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I welcome and comment on three important reports/strategies released over the past two weeks.

On 24th February 2024, the Minister of Education released the Australian Universities Accord Report, setting out 47 recommendations to enable Australia to achieve a more equitable and innovative higher education system. Reform around the Higher Education Charge (HEC) / Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) will reduce the financial burden on low-income earners, limit disincentives to work and ensure that indexation will not outgrow wage increases.

The National Council of Women of Australia (NCWA) would like to advocate further that indexation should cease immediately with the view of adopting the New Zealand interest-free tuition fee loans. Indexation of HELP severely disadvantages women who, due to family and care responsibilities, often require a longer period post qualification to achieve the full potential of their intended careers. Addressing placement poverty in the areas of nursing, care and teaching was also captured during the review process, and the NCWA strongly supports the Australian government to work with higher education providers and employers to introduce fair pay for fair work and end the unfair nature of up to 1,000 hours of unpaid placement work.

On 27th February, The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) released the 2022-2023 Gender Equality Scorecard. This scorecard was prepared using data submitted by public and private sector employers with over 100 employees. Mandated by the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023, employers report (annually) on six gender equality indicators (GEI).

The 6 GEIs are:

1. Gender composition of the workforce
2. Gender composition of boards and governing bodies
3. Gender pay gap
4. Workplace flexibility to support family and care responsibilities
5. Workplace consultation on gender equality
6. Workplace sexual harassment and discrimination

While there were many commentaries about the stubborn pay gap, it is important to look at other data that will go towards improving the gender pay gap in the long term. Despite being a signatory to the G20 Leaders Declaration in 2014 to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation by 25% by 2025, Australia has not included this measuring metric in the annual WGEA reporting. Gender composition in the uptake of flexible workplace offerings will also lead to a better understanding of sharing family and care responsibilities.

The NCWA recommend employers use the WGEA’s Data Explorer to further engage with their employees to improve business and societal outcomes, remove career barriers and improve economic and financial success for every Australian.

Yesterday, 18 months after an exhaustive nationwide consultation on the Draft National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality, the Hon. Katy Gallagher released the “Working for Women: A Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality”. Intended as a forerunner to today’s International Women’s Day celebrations, the headline act was the introduction of paying superannuation on Paid Parental Leave for children born or adopted from 1st July 2025. Recommended by the Women Economic and Equality Taskforce (WEET) some 12 months ago, this was a single tangible policy announcement that will be followed by more policy work focussing on the areas of gender-based violence, unpaid and paid care, economic equality and security, health and leadership, representation and decision-making.

We are only two months away from the next federal budget, where many of the recommendations from the past two weeks will be costed and presented to the nation. Australia needs to get serious about lifting overall productivity, increasing women’s workplace participation, and improving the gender pay gap whilst providing a safe and respectful working environment.

The NCWA recommends that our government invest in meaningful structural policy changes to pave the way to achieve gender equality for all Australians.

Chiou See Anderson

President – National Council of Women of Australia

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#IWD2024

NCWA 2023 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY STATEMENT

Today, we come together to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023. On behalf of NCWA, I wish to acknowledge the women who came before us, the women who work with us for the women who will come after us.

I pen this message to you from New York, as an International Council of Women (ICW) delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 67 th session.

The NCWA acknowledges that we have an important role to play, here in Australia, in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls throughout their life course, including in the context of innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age.

The NCWA condemns all forms of violence against women and girls and affirms the Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave Bill 2022. We acknowledge and advocate on eliminating technology-facilitated gender-based violence that limits women and girls’ participation in public life and the enjoyment of human rights.

The NCWA affirms the establishment of the Women Economic Equality Taskforce as we strive to ensure not just economic equality for all women but to attain economic security for women and girls throughout their life course. We look forward to the introduction of Gender Based Responsive budgeting from July 2023. NCWA welcomes the recent establishment of the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and its commitment to improve health equity and literacy whilst strengthening and diversifying medical research and health workforce training and education.

NCWA affirms Australian government’s commitment to closing the gender pay gap by introducing the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 to implement all 10 recommendations from the 2021 Review of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. We recognize that women and girls undertake a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, which limits women’s ability to participate in and occupy leadership positions. We emphasize the importance of access to universal Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs, affordable and accessible childcare, and equitable Paid Parental Leave (PPL) entitlements for both parents.

In line with CSW67, the NCWA recognizes the importance of the full engagement of men and boys as agents and beneficiaries of change. We note the ongoing need to educate children from a young age regarding the importance of gender equality, human rights, treating all people with dignity and respect and promoting a culture of peace, non-violent behaviour and respectful relationships.

Chiou See Anderson

President – National Council of Women of Australia
President – National Council of Women of Queensland
Assistant Treasurer – International Council of Women

Download HERE

At the NCWA Triennial Conference on Thursday, 10 November 2022, NCWA RESOLVED to urge the Australian Government:

1. To extend Universal Preschool to include all children in the 2 years before they start school, which would include three-year-olds;
2. To implement all 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs), signed at the United Nations by Australia in September 2015, and to measure and benchmark all legislation and decisions by the Australian Federal Government against the associated 169 targets and 232 measurable indicators on their impact toward achieving the SDGs;
3. To better support survivors of Modern Slavery (domestic, agricultural, or sexual slavery) alleged to have been committed/ perpetrated in Australia, through a national compensation scheme for survivors – implemented through amendment of the relevant federal legislation – so that survivors can access compensation through a slavery-specific national compensation scheme that should not require cooperation with police;
4. To compel child support customers to lodge a tax return annually and disallow child support decisions on ‘provisional income’;
5. To develop and implement a Charter/Bill of Human Rights;
6. To ratify the International Labour Organisation’s C190 – Violence and Harassment Convention 2019 (no. 190).

On hearing a presentation by Dr Anne Summers AO regarding her Report – “The Choice: Violence or Poverty” on Friday, 11 November 2022, NCWA RESOLVED forthwith that

7. The Australian Government should change the eligibility rules so that the parenting payment single allowance is available to all single parents until their youngest child reaches 16 or is still in high school.

Download the Resolutions (pdf) 

In this UNSW New Economic Policy Initiative paper  “(Un)Taxing Child-care Boosting Choice and Labour Supply through Subsidised & Tax-Deductible Child-care in Australia” by Rosalind Dixon, Richard Holden & Melissa Vogt, the authors advocate allowing childcare costs as a tax deduction.

Download the Full Paper (pdf)

EXTRACT

Australia’s child-care system has a number of strengths: it ensures high-quality care for a large number of Australian children. It is sensitive to the needs of disadvantaged children and families. And it contributes to child-care being accessible and affordable to large numbers of Australian families.

But it also has clear limits: a significant number of families report difficulties in accessing and/or affording adequate child-care. Lack of access to appropriate child-care is also a major obstacle to female labour-force participation in Australia.

In this report, we therefore argue that broadening the accessibility and affordability of child-care would offer important benefits for female labour-force participation — and the Australian economy more broadly. And we propose doing so in a quite specific way — by:

• Allowing any households who want to use the current arrangements to continue to use them with no modification, and;
• Allowing any household to opt to forego the current arrangements and instead receive a tax deduction for child-care expenditures up to $60,000 per annum.

Under our proposal, in two-parent households, each parent would qualify for 50% (of their marginal tax rate) deductibility.

By construction, this ensures that no household is worse off under our proposed reform—they can always stick with their current subsidy if they so choose. Only households that would be better off under the tax-deductibility option would choose to avail themselves of that option.

Continue reading the full paper (pdf)