❓ Hon. Helen Morton questions the Minister for Women's Interests about the gender pay gap in WA, which is the highest in Australia despite a strong economy. The Minister outlines the government's response, including commissioning a report and establishing a pay equity unit.
AnsweredQoN 255Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WOMEN - EMPLOYMENT PARTICIPATION AND WAGES
(1) Is the minister aware that, despite a strong state economy and healthy labour market, with employment participation for women growing from 57 per cent to 60 per cent in the past year, the gap between men’s and women’s wages in Western Australia continues to be the highest of all states and territories? (2) Is the minister aware that women earn $287 less per week than men; that is, only 74 per cent of men’s average weekly earnings? (3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA
(1) Is the minister aware that, despite a strong state economy and healthy labour market, with employment participation for women growing from 57 per cent to 60 per cent in the past year, the gap between men’s and women’s wages in Western Australia continues to be the highest of all states and territories? (2) Is the minister aware that women earn $287 less per week than men; that is, only 74 per cent of men’s average weekly earnings? (3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(2) Is the minister aware that women earn $287 less per week than men; that is, only 74 per cent of men’s average weekly earnings? (3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(2) Is the minister aware that women earn $287 less per week than men; that is, only 74 per cent of men’s average weekly earnings? (3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(3) Is the minister aware that nationally women earn 85 per cent of men’s wages? (4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(4) Will the minister outline specific measures being progressed by the Carpenter government to reduce the gap? (5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(5) Will the minister give a deadline by which the Carpenter government will guarantee that the gap between men’s and women’s wages in WA will reduce to at least the national average? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(1)-(3) Yes. (4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
(4) The government commissioned Dr Trish Todd and Dr Joan Everline of the University of Western Australia to provide a review of the gender pay gap in Western Australia, which was completed in November 2004. The report identified multiple factors contributing to the pay gap and concluded that a multidimensional approach was required to address it. A key recommendation of the report was to establish a pay equity unit to implement the recommendations of the report, as directed by the government. This unit has now been established within the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
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