The Gender Pay Gap in Western Australia: Gross Inequity, Women Still ‘Counting for Nothing’?

ABSTRACT

Western Australia (WA) has the largest gender pay gap (GPG) of any Australian state, standing at 26.9 per cent in August 2007. In recent years two WA governments have expressed their concern by commissioning reports. This article details the findings and recommendations of the most recent 2004 review and outlines the government's response subsequent to the review. The article analyses the barriers to implementing the changes needed to improve gender pay equity in WA, including the lack of awareness and understanding of gender pay equity, the complexity of the causes of the GPG, the expected opposition from employers to many of the recommended changes, and the factors impeding union and government commitment to the changes needed. The article concludes by considering to what extent and in what ways the GPG is perceived as ‘a problem’ by employers, unions and the majority of the population. It suggests that prioritising achievable goals to improve the position of women in the workplace may require refocusing ‘the problem’ away from the GPG itself.