Advance Australia Fairly
How a National Plan for Gender Equality can Drive Australia’s Economic Success
Written by Dr Kathryn J Evans
Edited and produced by Broadcast Books
The belief in a ‘fair go’ is embedded in our society, yet gender inequality continues to be a problem – and it’s holding our economy back. So, what can be done about it and why should Australia as a nation care?
There’s a strong moral argument that men and women deserve equal access to health, education, economic participation, earning potential, and political decision-making power. Arguably even more important in these uncertain times, though, is the fact that gender parity has a significant impact on growth, correlating strongly with GDP per capita and economic competitiveness. As we strive for a sustainable future, the research supports the proposal for Australia to invest in a comprehensive national approach to gender equality – to reap economic rewards estimated to be more than $200 billion.
At the current pace of change, the World Economic Forum predicts it will take more than 135 years to close the gender inequality gap. Intervention is necessary to achieve widespread change for Australia’s economic success. Implementing a National Strategic Action Plan for Gender Equality is key to transforming our future and Advancing Australia Fairly.