WGEA parliamentary submissions

2024 submissions

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024

WGEA Submission to the Inquiry into the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024 (PDF, 226.48 KB)

December 2024

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is pleased to present a submission to the Australian Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024.

WGEA is the Federal Government statutory agency responsible for promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces and for administering the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

Submission to the ASX Corporate Governance Council

Submission to the ASX Corporate Governance Council (PDF, 152.43 KB)

May 2024

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is pleased to present a submission to the ASX Corporate Governance Council.

The ASX Corporate Governance Council has released a consultation draft of the fifth edition of its Principles and Recommendations. This edition considers raising the measurable objective for gender diversity on boards from a 30% target for women to a gender-balanced target (40% women, 40% men, 20% any gender).

2023 submissions

Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023

WGEA's submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 highlights the proposed changes to the Act, with a focus on publishing gender pay gaps.

Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 (PDF, 1.95 MB)

Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 - WGEA Submission.

Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022

Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 (PDF, 252.17 KB)

January 2023

The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 amends the Paid Parental Leave Act to make the payment more accessible, more flexible and gender-neutral. The changes include extending parental leave pay from 18 weeks to 20 weeks, the removal of ‘primary’, ‘secondary’ and ‘tertiary’ claimants and the requirement that the primary claimants of parental leave pay must be the birth parent.

All the WGEA submissions sent into commission inquiries and reviews can be found below.

2022 submissions

Submission to the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act Review

Submission to the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act Review (PDF, 245.85 KB)

February 2022

The Maternity Leave Act Review is focused on health and flexibility, and will explore streamlining administration requirements, paid maternity leave entitlements, the health and career needs of birth mothers, and superannuation entitlements whilst on parental leave. The WGEA have provided a submission outlining the current leading practice parental leave measures in the private sector.

Past submissions

Treasury Retirement Income Review 2020

Treasury Retirement Income Review (PDF, 436.79 KB)

February 2020

The retirement income review has identified four principles to assess the performance of Australia's retirement income system. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency have provided a submission under the principle of equity.

Senate Inquiry into Gender Segregation in the Workplace and its Impact on Women's Economic Equality 2017

Senate Inquiry into Gender Segregation in the Workplace and its Impact on Women's Economic Equality (PDF, 319.54 KB)

March 2017

This submission outlines the business case for gender equality in the workplace and highlights measures that can improve gender balance in the workforce.

Senate Inquiry into the Fairer Paid Parental Leave Bill 2017

Senate Inquiry into the Fairer Paid Parental Leave Bill (PDF, 282.89 KB)

January 2017

This submission outlines the Agency's position on proposed changes to the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.

Senate Inquiry into Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015

Senate Inquiry into Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015 (PDF, 379.33 KB)

February 2016

This submission outlines the Agency's response to the Sentate Inquiry into the Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015, which looks to remove legal prohibition of employees discussing their pay within the workplace.

Productivity Commission Inquiry into childcare and early childhood learning

Inquiry into childcare and early childhood learning (PDF, 146.38 KB)

January 2014

This submission to the productivity commission addresses the Scope of Inquiry in the childcare and early childhood learning review. It focuses on the workforce participation of parents and roles that childcare and workplace flexibility play in this.