New Law Mandates Gender Equality Targets for Large Employers in Australia

Australia's federal parliament has passed new legislation mandating that large employers with over 500 workers set and work towards achieving gender equality targets. These targets, which must be selected by the employers, include addressing the gender pay gap, increasing women's representation on boards, and preventing sexual harassment. Employers will have three years to make demonstrable progress, with non-compliance potentially resulting in disqualification from Commonwealth contracts and public naming of those who fail to meet the requirements. The legislation aims to hold employers publicly accountable for their actions regarding gender equality and is expected to benefit nearly 3.9 million employees across approximately 2,000 businesses. WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge emphasized the necessity of these measurable targets to drive real change, as many employers have not sufficiently addressed existing gender disparities. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher described the reform as essential for achieving long-term gender equality outcomes.