Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 91, 1986
Compilation No. 22
Compilation date: 12 April 2023
Includes amendments up to: Act No. 18, 2023
Registered: 8 May 2023
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 12 April 2023 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part I--Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
2A Objects of Act
2B Simplified outline
3 Interpretation
4 Meaning of relevant employer
5 Application of Act
5A Application of Criminal Code
5B Binding the Crown
Part III--Workplace Gender Equality Agency
8A Workplace Gender Equality Agency
10 Functions and powers of Agency
11 Directions by Minister
12 Agency to submit reports to Minister
Part IV--Reports by relevant employers
13 Relevant employers to prepare reports relating to gender equality indicators
13A Reporting periods for reports
13B When public reports are due
13C Personal information
14 Information relating to remuneration
14A Information of a kind specified by the Minister
15 Agency's use of public report
15A Agency must publish information for relevant employers--achieving gender equality in relation to remuneration
16 Relevant employer to make public reports accessible to employees and shareholders etc.
16A Relevant employer to inform employee organisations of lodgement of public report
16B Relevant employer to inform employees and employee organisations of the opportunity to comment
16C Certain reports to be given to relevant employer's governing body
17 Agency may grant extensions
Part IVA--Reviewing compliance with this Act and consequences of non-compliance
18 Simplified outline
19 Minister to set gender equality standards in relation to gender equality indicators
19A Agency may review compliance with Act
19B Relevant employer fails to comply with Act if employer gives false or misleading information
19C Relevant employer fails to comply with Act if employer fails to improve against gender equality standard
19CA Relevant employer fails to comply with Act if certain reports are not given to governing body
19D Consequences of non-compliance with Act
19E Agency to offer relevant employers advice and assistance if employers fail to meet gender equality standards
Part V--CEO
20AA CEO
20 Appointment of CEO
21 Tenure of CEO
22 Remuneration and allowances
23 Leave of absence
24 Outside employment
25 Resignation
26 Termination of appointment
27 Disclosure of interest
28 Acting appointment
Part VI--Miscellaneous
29 Staff
30 Consultants
31 Advisory committees
32 Non-disclosure of confidential information
33 Delegation
33A Minister to consult before making legislative instruments
34 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 | 91, 1986 | 3 Sept 1986 | 1 Oct 1986 (gaz 1986, No. S491) |
|
80, 1988 | 24 June 1988 | 1 July 1988 (gaz 1988, No. S190) | -- | |
87, 1988 | 8 Nov 1988 | s 1 and 2: 8 Nov 1988 | -- | |
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Amendment Act 1989 | 30, 1989 | 24 May 1989 | 24 May 1989 (s 2) | -- |
Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 | 105, 1992 | 9 July 1992 | 5 Oct 1992 (s 2) | -- |
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Amendment Act 1992 | 181, 1992 | 16 Dec 1992 | 16 Dec 1992 (s2) | |
196, 1992 | 21 Dec 1992 | Sch (Parts 3 and 6): (a) |
| |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
60, 1993 | 3 Nov 1993 | 10 Mar 1993 | -- | |
168, 1994 | 16 Dec 1994 | -- | ||
43, 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | Sch 4 (items 6, 7): 25 Oct 1996 (s 2(1)) | -- | |
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 | 60, 1996 | 25 Nov 1996 | Sch 19 (item 4): 25 Nov 1996 (s 2(1)) | -- |
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 | 146, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | Sch 1 (items 54, 55): 5 Dec 1999 (gaz 1999, No S584 and s 2(1), (2)) | -- |
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Act 1999 | 183, 1999 | 22 Dec 1999 | Sch 1 and 3: 1 Jan 2000 | Sch 3 |
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 | 55, 2001 | 28 June 2001 | s 4-14 and Sch 3 (item 173): 15 July 2001 (gaz 2001, No. S285 and s 2(3)) | |
Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 142, 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | ||
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2001 | 144, 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | Sch 3 (item 1): 1 Oct 2001 (s 2(1)) | -- |
Abolition of Compulsory Age Retirement (Statutory Officeholders) Act 2001 | 159, 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | 29 Oct 2001 | Sch 1 (item 97) |
105, 2002 | 14 Nov 2002 | Sch 3 (item 47): 12 May 2003 (s 2 and gaz 2002, No GN49) | -- | |
127, 2002 | 11 Dec 2002 | Sch 3 (item 19): Royal Assent | -- | |
Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 | 150, 2003 | 19 Dec 2003 | Sch 2 (item 102): 1 Jan 2004 (s 2(1) item 8) | -- |
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 | 54, 2009 | 25 June 2009 | Sch 9 (item 1): 1 July 2009 (s 2(1) item 31) | -- |
40, 2011 | 20 June 2011 | Sch 1 (item 70): 21 June 2011 | -- | |
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Act 2012 | 179, 2012 | 6 Dec 2012 | Sch 1 (items 1-73, 75-79): Royal Assent | Sch 1 (items 72, 73) |
62, 2014 | 30 June 2014 | Sch 6 (item 77), Sch 12 (items 290-299) and Sch 14: 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) items 6, 14) | Sch 14 | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2015 | 36, 2015 | 13 Apr 2015 | Sch 2 (items 7-9) and Sch 7: 14 Apr 2015 (s 2) | Sch 7 |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 486): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 495): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2015 | 5, 2015 | 25 Feb 2015 | Sch 1 (items 43, 44): 25 Mar 2015 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (items 670, 671): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
33, 2016 | 23 Mar 2016 | Sch 5 (items 102, 103): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- | |
Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 | 85, 2022 | 12 Dec 2022 | Sch 6: 13 Dec 2022 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- |
Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Act 2023 | 18, 2023 | 11 Apr 2023 | 12 Apr 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (items 34-37) |
(a) The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 was amended by the Qantas Sale Act 1992, subsections 2(2), (5) and (6) of which provide as follows:
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.
(5) If, on the 100% sale day, Part 3 of the Schedule has not commenced, then, on the day on which Part 7 of the Schedule commences, Parts 3 and 6 of the Schedule are taken to have been repealed.
(6) If a provision of this Act has not commenced before 31 August 1995, the provision is taken to have been repealed on that day.
The Schedule (Parts 3 and 6) are taken to have been repealed on 31 August 1995.
Provision affected | How affected |
Title.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012; No 18, 2023 |
Part I |
|
s 1..................... | am No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
s 2A.................... | ad No 183, 1999 |
| rs No 179, 2012 |
s 2B.................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
s 3..................... | am No 80, 1988; No 87, 1988; No 30, 1989; No 105, 1992; No 181, 1992; No 60, 1996; No 183, 1999; No 55, 2001; No 105, 2002; No 127, 2002; No 150, 2003; No 54, 2009; No 40, 2011; No 179, 2012; No 5, 2015; No 33, 2016; No 85, 2022; No 18, 2023 |
s 4..................... | rep No 33, 2016 |
| ad No 85, 2022 |
s 5..................... | am No 105, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012; No 85, 2022 |
s 5A.................... | ad No 142, 2001 |
s 5B.................... | ad No 85, 2022 |
Part II heading............. | rs No 183, 1999 |
| rep No 179, 2012 |
Part II................... | rep No 179, 2012 |
s 6..................... | rs No 183, 1999 |
| rep No 179, 2012 |
s 7..................... | am No 30, 1989 |
| rep No 183, 1999 |
s 8..................... | rs No 183, 1999 |
| rep No 179, 2012 |
Part III |
|
Part III heading............. | rs No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
s 8A.................... | ad No 181, 1992 |
| am No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012; No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 9..................... | am No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
| rep No 18, 2023 |
s 10.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
s 11.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
s 12.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 179, 2012; No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
Part IV |
|
s 13.................... | am No 30, 1989; No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
| am No 85, 2022; No 18, 2023 |
s 13A................... | ad No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 183, 1999 |
| am No 179, 2012; No 85, 2022 |
s 13B................... | ad No 183, 1999 |
| rs No 85, 2022 |
s 13C................... | ad No 183, 1999 |
| rs No 179, 2012 |
| am No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 14.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
| am No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 14A................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 15.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 179, 2012; No 62, 2014 |
s 15A................... | ad No 18, 2023 |
s 16.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 179, 2012 |
s 16A................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
s 16B................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
s 16C................... | ad No 18, 2023 |
s 17.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 144, 2001; No 179, 2012; No 85, 2022 |
Part IVA |
|
Part IVA................. | ad No 179, 2012 |
s 18.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
s 19.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
| rs No 179, 2012 |
| am No 126, 2015; No 85, 2022; No 18, 2023 |
s 19A................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
s 19B................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
s 19C................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
s 19CA.................. | ad No 18, 2023 |
s 19D................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 62, 2014 |
s 19E................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
Part V |
|
Part V heading............. | rs No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
| am No 18, 2023 |
s 20AA.................. | ad No 18, 2023 |
s 20.................... | am No 159, 2001; No 18, 2023 |
s 21.................... | am No 18, 2023 |
s 22.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 18, 2023 |
s 23.................... | am No 18, 2023 |
s 24.................... | am No 18, 2023 |
s 25.................... | am No 18, 2023 |
s 26.................... | am No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 27.................... | am No 62, 2014; No 18, 2023 |
s 28.................... | am No 18, 2023 |
Part VI |
|
s 29.................... | am No 146, 1999; No 18, 2023 |
s 30.................... | am No 181, 1992 |
s 31.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 43, 1996; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012 |
s 32.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 142, 2001; No 144, 2001; No 179, 2012; No 18, 2023 |
s 33.................... | am No 181, 1992; No 183, 1999; No 179, 2012; No 18, 2023 |
s 33A................... | ad No 179, 2012 |
| am No 126, 2015 |