Workplaces urged to back equality and diversity efforts
As humanitarian crises and foreign aid cuts threaten women's organisations amid a global backlash against gender equality, UN Women Australia is calling on leaders to foster inclusive and resilient workplaces.
"Global instability is leading to the de-prioritisation of humanitarian causes, including gender equality and diversity, equity and inclusion, as governments and organisations redirect resources to immediate crises," chief executive Simone Clarke told AAP.
"Economic pressures are causing cuts to equity-focused roles and programs, while rising job insecurity and political polarisation are undermining inclusive workplace cultures."
While there has been progress and efforts to close the gender pay gap and better value work in highly feminised essential sectors, there is room to do more.
The gender pay gap sits at 21.8 per cent for total remuneration, but this does not make sense given the high levels of education of women, Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work director Rae Cooper said.
"We have significant care gaps where women do the great majority of unpaid care - we need to focus on ways to boost men's contribution here," she said.
"Affordable, accessible and high-quality care is a must if we want to get to a gender equal economy and society, so moving to a model of universal early childhood education is critical."
Professor Cooper will speak at a UN Women Australia panel event on leading with resilience.
She said Australia was at the top of international league tables, with a highly qualified and educated female workforce, but there was more to do.
"To build resilient, inclusive and productive workplaces, Australia must continue its trajectory to foreground gender equality and job quality across the economy," she said.
"We are still not there on strong representation of women in senior and strategic roles and gendered segregation, where jobs and whole sectors are dominated by one gender, is still a problem, so careful attention to these matters is critical."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
18 minutes ago
- Perth Now
REVEALED: The surprising WA suburb to spend the most online
Cost of living pressures? Not in Mandurah… residents of the 6210 postcode spent the most online in WA and were one of the top spenders in the country during the end-of-financial-year online shopping boom. Australians spent $19.2 billion online in the last quarter as the anticipation of interest rate cuts and easing inflation sparked a surge in end-of-financial-year shopping, according to Australia Post's latest Quarterly eCommerce Report. The top shopping suburbs in WA were Mandurah, Success and Wanneroo. Mandurah was in the top five locations for online shopping Australia-wide. From April to June this year, there was a 15 per cent increase in online spending with 7.9 million Australian households shopping online. Australians spent $4.2 billion through online marketplaces, food and liquor attracted $3.9 billion in online spending, followed by $2.7 billion spent on fashion. Millennials contributed $6.9 billion to online shopping, and appeared to have the most discretionary spending of any generation, followed by Gen X ($5.3 billion) and Gen Z ($3.4 billion). Gen Z saw the biggest increase of any generation, seeing a 16% growth since last year. Toowoomba (QLD), Mackay (QLD), Bundaberg (QLD), Point Cook (VIC), and Mandurah (WA) shopped the most online. Australia Post general manager Chelsea O'Reilly said consumer behaviour has shifted when it comes to how they shop online. 'With inflation cooling and consumer confidence returning, we're seeing more Australians shop online, with higher expectations,' she said. 'Shoppers are spending more, but they're also expecting more in the way of speed, convenience and value. 'Retailers that put the customer experience first, through faster delivery and more flexible options will stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape'. To learn more about online shopping trends and consumer insights, visit:
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
US steaks on the barbie: Trump smug on Aust beef u-turn
US President Donald Trump has applauded Australia's relaxation of import restrictions on American beef, adding that other countries that refuse US beef products are on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for US beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase US shipments because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower. Australia plans to take US beef for the "first time," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, calling it a "very big market". Canberra has restricted US beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Since 2019, it has allowed in meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the US but few suppliers were able to prove that their cattle had not been in Canada and Mexico. Last night, in another post, Trump said the US would "sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World." "The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE," the post continued. Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with numerous countries he says have taken advantage of the United States – a characterisation many economists dispute. "For decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement, calling Australia's decision a "major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers". Australia is not a significant importer of beef but the United States is and a production slump is forcing it to step up purchases. Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tonnes of beef worth $US2.9 billion ($A4.4 billion) to the United States, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way. Australian officials say the relaxation of restrictions was not part of any trade negotiations but the result of a years-long assessment of US biosecurity practices. On Wednesday, Australia's agriculture ministry said US cattle traceability and control systems had improved enough that Australia could accept beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the United States. The decision has caused some concern in Australia, where biosecurity is seen as essential to prevent diseases and pests from ravaging the farm sector. "We need to know if (the government) is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump," shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said in a statement. Australia, which imports more from the US than it exports, faces a 10 per cent across-the-board US tariff, as well as 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Asked whether the change would help achieve a trade deal, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said: "I'm not too sure". "We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement," he said. "We think that they should do that anyway." US President Donald Trump has applauded Australia's relaxation of import restrictions on American beef, adding that other countries that refuse US beef products are on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for US beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase US shipments because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower. Australia plans to take US beef for the "first time," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, calling it a "very big market". Canberra has restricted US beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Since 2019, it has allowed in meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the US but few suppliers were able to prove that their cattle had not been in Canada and Mexico. Last night, in another post, Trump said the US would "sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World." "The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE," the post continued. Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with numerous countries he says have taken advantage of the United States – a characterisation many economists dispute. "For decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement, calling Australia's decision a "major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers". Australia is not a significant importer of beef but the United States is and a production slump is forcing it to step up purchases. Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tonnes of beef worth $US2.9 billion ($A4.4 billion) to the United States, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way. Australian officials say the relaxation of restrictions was not part of any trade negotiations but the result of a years-long assessment of US biosecurity practices. On Wednesday, Australia's agriculture ministry said US cattle traceability and control systems had improved enough that Australia could accept beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the United States. The decision has caused some concern in Australia, where biosecurity is seen as essential to prevent diseases and pests from ravaging the farm sector. "We need to know if (the government) is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump," shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said in a statement. Australia, which imports more from the US than it exports, faces a 10 per cent across-the-board US tariff, as well as 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Asked whether the change would help achieve a trade deal, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said: "I'm not too sure". "We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement," he said. "We think that they should do that anyway." US President Donald Trump has applauded Australia's relaxation of import restrictions on American beef, adding that other countries that refuse US beef products are on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for US beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase US shipments because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower. Australia plans to take US beef for the "first time," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, calling it a "very big market". Canberra has restricted US beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Since 2019, it has allowed in meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the US but few suppliers were able to prove that their cattle had not been in Canada and Mexico. Last night, in another post, Trump said the US would "sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World." "The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE," the post continued. Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with numerous countries he says have taken advantage of the United States – a characterisation many economists dispute. "For decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement, calling Australia's decision a "major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers". Australia is not a significant importer of beef but the United States is and a production slump is forcing it to step up purchases. Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tonnes of beef worth $US2.9 billion ($A4.4 billion) to the United States, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way. Australian officials say the relaxation of restrictions was not part of any trade negotiations but the result of a years-long assessment of US biosecurity practices. On Wednesday, Australia's agriculture ministry said US cattle traceability and control systems had improved enough that Australia could accept beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the United States. The decision has caused some concern in Australia, where biosecurity is seen as essential to prevent diseases and pests from ravaging the farm sector. "We need to know if (the government) is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump," shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said in a statement. Australia, which imports more from the US than it exports, faces a 10 per cent across-the-board US tariff, as well as 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Asked whether the change would help achieve a trade deal, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said: "I'm not too sure". "We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement," he said. "We think that they should do that anyway." US President Donald Trump has applauded Australia's relaxation of import restrictions on American beef, adding that other countries that refuse US beef products are on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for US beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase US shipments because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower. Australia plans to take US beef for the "first time," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, calling it a "very big market". Canberra has restricted US beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Since 2019, it has allowed in meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the US but few suppliers were able to prove that their cattle had not been in Canada and Mexico. Last night, in another post, Trump said the US would "sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World." "The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE," the post continued. Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with numerous countries he says have taken advantage of the United States – a characterisation many economists dispute. "For decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement, calling Australia's decision a "major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers". Australia is not a significant importer of beef but the United States is and a production slump is forcing it to step up purchases. Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tonnes of beef worth $US2.9 billion ($A4.4 billion) to the United States, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way. Australian officials say the relaxation of restrictions was not part of any trade negotiations but the result of a years-long assessment of US biosecurity practices. On Wednesday, Australia's agriculture ministry said US cattle traceability and control systems had improved enough that Australia could accept beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the United States. The decision has caused some concern in Australia, where biosecurity is seen as essential to prevent diseases and pests from ravaging the farm sector. "We need to know if (the government) is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump," shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said in a statement. Australia, which imports more from the US than it exports, faces a 10 per cent across-the-board US tariff, as well as 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Asked whether the change would help achieve a trade deal, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said: "I'm not too sure". "We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement," he said. "We think that they should do that anyway."
SBS Australia
8 hours ago
- SBS Australia
The plan to make Australian workers $14,000 richer
The plan to make Australian workers $14,000 richer Published 25 July 2025, 9:01 am The Productivity Commission is urging the government to prioritise economic growth to fix Australia's decades-old productivity problem. The Commission's latest report found that for the last twenty years governments had arguably ignored or minimised economic growth, when making policy choices.
