The Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN), a community of 20,000 women in business across Australia, has today released the latest results to a pre-election poll it conducted with members to identify key issues they would like the next government to address.

The top issues identified by the national community of businesswomen are:

1.    50.7% of respondents identified government support for small businesses, including grants and training and education, as the top concern.
2.    46% of respondents identified reduction in red tape and compliance for small business as the second highest concern.
3.    Not surprisingly, 35.4% of members identified gender imbalance in executive management and boards as the third highest concern.

“With a vast community of voters, it is important to understand what each party’s policies are towards women and business so that our members can make an informed choice at the polls.  The ABN has requested that each of the major parties outline how they will address these important issues, and we are currently awaiting their responses to share this with our members,” explained ABN’s Advocacy Ambassador, Amy Lyden.

The Australian Businesswomen's Network’s herVoice campaign aggregates the opinions and concerns of its national community and presents those issues to the relevant government contacts. “Individuals in small business don’t have the resources to act on their own behalf to make changes, so ABN is a vehicle for their important voices to be heard.”

Childcare cost/incentives are a major concern for many working mums. 30.8% of respondents ranked tax deductibility or greater incentives for all kinds of childcare, including family day care and nannies, as important.  An additional 17.9% identified the cost of childcare as an issue.

Other issues that were ranked as a top concern include the Fair Work Workplace Relations (identified by 27% of respondents), the super gap between women and men (28%) and the lack of aged care options (19%).

A detailed breakdown of the survey is attached. Responses represented top 3 issues identified by businesswomen as important, and therefore, total percentages exceed 100%.

For More Information or Interviews:

Amy Lyden – Advocacy Ambassador, amy.lyden@abn.org.au 0414 745 289
Suzi Dafnis – Community Director, suzi@abn.org.au 0413 704 560