Hon. Alison Xamon questions the government on initiatives to reduce WA's gender pay gap, which is the largest in Australia. The Minister responds by highlighting existing pay equity resources and a voluntary audit program.

AnsweredQoN 833Legislative Council
Asked
8 September 2009
Portfolio
Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

GENDER PAY GAP — INITIATIVES
I refer to Western Australia’s gender pay gap, which, at over 27 per cent, is the largest in Australia. What specific initiatives does the government intend to use to reduce WA’s substantial gender pay gap to at least the national average? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — The Department of Commerce is continuing to progress pay equity initiatives that aim to reduce Western Australia’s gender pay gap. A significant range of pay equity resources has been developed over the past three years, including the unique automated pay equity audit tool. These resources will be maintained and updated on an ongoing basis, and are accessible via the Department of Commerce’s website. The pay equity audit initiative aims to encourage private and public sector organisations to undertake pay equity audits to identify barriers to female participation in career progression in their workplaces. This includes providing detailed gender pay gap data to large public sector agencies on an annual basis. This initiative will continue to be undertaken by the labour relations division of the Department of Commerce. The initiative is a well-accepted, voluntary program from which public and private sector organisations can gain ongoing advice and support in implementing pay equity strategies.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — The Department of Commerce is continuing to progress pay equity initiatives that aim to reduce Western Australia’s gender pay gap. A significant range of pay equity resources has been developed over the past three years, including the unique automated pay equity audit tool. These resources will be maintained and updated on an ongoing basis, and are accessible via the Department of Commerce’s website. The pay equity audit initiative aims to encourage private and public sector organisations to undertake pay equity audits to identify barriers to female participation in career progression in their workplaces. This includes providing detailed gender pay gap data to large public sector agencies on an annual basis. This initiative will continue to be undertaken by the labour relations division of the Department of Commerce. The initiative is a well-accepted, voluntary program from which public and private sector organisations can gain ongoing advice and support in implementing pay equity strategies.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — The Department of Commerce is continuing to progress pay equity initiatives that aim to reduce Western Australia’s gender pay gap. A significant range of pay equity resources has been developed over the past three years, including the unique automated pay equity audit tool. These resources will be maintained and updated on an ongoing basis, and are accessible via the Department of Commerce’s website. The pay equity audit initiative aims to encourage private and public sector organisations to undertake pay equity audits to identify barriers to female participation in career progression in their workplaces. This includes providing detailed gender pay gap data to large public sector agencies on an annual basis. This initiative will continue to be undertaken by the labour relations division of the Department of Commerce. The initiative is a well-accepted, voluntary program from which public and private sector organisations can gain ongoing advice and support in implementing pay equity strategies.
The Department of Commerce is continuing to progress pay equity initiatives that aim to reduce Western Australia’s gender pay gap. A significant range of pay equity resources has been developed over the past three years, including the unique automated pay equity audit tool. These resources will be maintained and updated on an ongoing basis, and are accessible via the Department of Commerce’s website. The pay equity audit initiative aims to encourage private and public sector organisations to undertake pay equity audits to identify barriers to female participation in career progression in their workplaces. This includes providing detailed gender pay gap data to large public sector agencies on an annual basis. This initiative will continue to be undertaken by the labour relations division of the Department of Commerce. The initiative is a well-accepted, voluntary program from which public and private sector organisations can gain ongoing advice and support in implementing pay equity strategies.

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