Review of annual reports
2.1
This chapter examines one report in greater detail, and provides the
Senate with information that may be of particular interest.
2.2
The following report under the Employment portfolio[1]
is discussed in this chapter:
-
Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
2.3
No reports from bodies under the Education and Training portfolio were
received during this reporting period.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
2.4
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is a statutory agency
established under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (the Act).[2]
2.5
The WGEA is charged with promoting and improving gender equality in
Australian workplaces, including through the provision of advice and assistance
to employers and the assessment and measurement of workplace data.[3]
2.6
During 2016-17, the agency continued to expand its national audience.
The number of speaking engagements increased by 44 per cent to 89.[4]
The WGEA also conducted 15 webinars and live demonstrations which reached 1578
participants.[5]
2.7
As of 11 September 2017, over 4600 reporting organisations had been
assessed as compliant with the Act.[6]
These employers represented over 4 million employees, accounting for
approximately 40 per cent of Australian employees.[7]
This represents a slight decrease on the 2015-16 reporting data.
2.8
All of the WGEA's performance criteria were exceeded. These were:
-
Increasing the number of speaking engagements and event
participation from 62 in 2015-16 [the WGEA undertook 89 speaking engagements in
2016-17];
-
improving the ease of reporting through the simplification of the
secure logon procedure and the wording and layout of the reporting criteria and
increasing the means by which data is communicated;
-
increasing the number of media mentions of the Agency from 516 in
2015-16 [the WGEA received 679 media mentions in 2016-17];
-
increasing the number of industry roundtables from 6 in 2015-16
[there were 11 in 2016-17];
-
increasing the number of holders of the WGEA Employer of Choice
for Gender Equality citation from 91 in 2015-16 [the number of citations
increased to 106 in 2016-17]; and
-
increasing the number of enlisted Pay Equity Ambassadors from 103
in 2015-16 [there were 113 in 2016-17].[8]
2.9
The WGEA continued to expand its education outreach program during the
reporting period. Unique web visits increased by approximately 60 000 on
2015-16 levels to over 339 000.[9]
The agency also reported a 72 per cent increase in Facebook 'likes' and a 32
per cent increase in Twitter followers.[10]
2.10
The WGEA recorded a deficit of $939 009 during the reporting period.[11]
2.11
The committee notes that following changes to Administrative
Arrangements Order signed on 19 April 2018, the WGEA no longer falls under the
jurisdiction of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee. The Agency
instead now falls within the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio and will
present future annual reports to the Finance and Public Administration
Legislation Committee.
2.12
The committee commends the WGEA for its continued work in enhancing
awareness and promoting gender equality in Australia.
Senator
Slade Brockman
Chair
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