Policy & Advocacy
AGEC plays a key role in advocating for gender equality through public advocacy and policy development in each of the key areas critical to women achieving gender equality in all aspects of work and life.
Budget & Election News
March 2025 – Federal Budget is modest but on the right track for achieving gender equality
The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget confirms the government's commitment to gender equality and support for a national strategy, albeit modest. Funding initiatives include women's health and medicines, gender based violence, underpaid care...
February 2025 – AGEC 2025 – 2026 Pre Budget Submission
AGEC's FY25-26 Pre Budget submission cautions that now is not the time to take the focus off gender equality initiatives which will deliver a stronger Australian economy and community. The comprehensive submission calls for real and lasting transformation by...
May 2024 – Federal Budget mixed and fails to deliver on gender equality
The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget was mixed and fails to deliver on the intent of achieving gender equality in a generation. The budget confirmed funding for several gender equality initiatives in gender-based violence, under-paid care...
Policy Position Statements
A National Strategy on Gender Equality
Australia has never had a national strategy on gender equality – one which comprehensively identifies and seeks to address all aspects of gender inequality as set out in AGEC’s Gender Equality Manifesto.
Only when a comprehensive National Strategy is established by Government in collaboration with business and the broader community will Australia accelerate its pathway to achieving gender equality. Without a co-ordinated and integrated strategy, well-intended efforts to achieve gender equality will increasingly become hit and miss, and continue to focus only on addressing symptoms not the underlying root causes of inequality.
AGEC’s 25-26 Pre budget Submission outlines what a National Strategy would encompass.
AGEC calls for Decisive Action to end Sexual Harassment
The Australian Gender Equality Council believes all people must be respected and be safe from the threat of violence and sexual harassment. We call upon the Prime Minister, National Cabinet and every elected Member of Parliament to act against gendered violence in the Parliamentary workplace as an example to every Australian workplace. All 55 recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s 2020 Report must be implemented as a top priority, and the government must ratify the International Convention on eliminating violence and harassment at work. #ItsTime
2025 Election Scorecard
The Scorecard is based on an assessment of how each of the major parties measures up against our Key Election Priorities and may be updated as more policies are released.
The assessments have been made in good faith based on how the published party policies at the time of writing address AGEC’s Key Election Priorities. Qualitative judgements are exercised in the measurement of likely impact of each policy initiative, having regard to multiple criteria, the scale of commitments, and the level of supporting detail.
To read the detailed commentary click here: The Full Federal Election AGEC Scorecard.
Reviews & Submissions
March 2022 – Workplace Gender Equality Act Review Recommendations Released
The Government has released the findings of its Review into the Workplace Gender Equality Act and its recommendations for change. The Report's recommendations follow many of the calls made for strengthening the powers of the WGEA in the consultation process in 2021,...
Media Releases
May 2024 – Federal Budget mixed and fails to deliver on gender equality
The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget was mixed and fails to deliver on the intent of achieving gender equality in a generation. The budget confirmed funding for several gender equality initiatives in gender-based violence, under-paid care...
