Invest
Investors urged to speak out against inequality
Shareholders have been urged to push back against gender equality laggards and consider exiting business relationships where inequality is ignored.

Investors urged to speak out against inequality
Shareholders have been urged to push back against gender equality laggards and consider exiting business relationships where inequality is ignored.

With a gender pay gap of 15.3 per cent and a superannuation gap of 47 per cent, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, it’s time for shareholders to step up in reducing gender inequality, a new report has found.
The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility’s (ACCR) Gender Pay Equity and Australian Listed Companies report found that while 80 per cent of listed companies have taken action as a result of gender pay gap analysis, only 24 per cent of the ASX 100-listed companies have made a public commitment to gender pay equity.
“Research suggests that companies that have gender pay equity are more likely to outperform their peers,” the report’s authors said.
“Therefore, it is in Australian companies’ interests to be at the forefront of addressing gender pay equity issues within their operations. It is also in investors’ interests to play a role in monitoring and enforcing gender pay equity.”
ACCR, in conjunction with responsible corporate analysis group CAER, called on investors to take five steps:
- Encourage companies to include gender pay equity issues into investment due diligence, screening, engagement and monitoring processes;
- Where possible, publish information about their engagement with companies on gender pay issues, like voting records on these issues;
- Think about saying goodbye to business relationships where the companies are not only failing to address gender pay issues, but are also not responding to engagement;
- For super funds, pushes to close the super gap should be backed up by shareholder advocacy; and
- Investors should push companies to adopt the recommendations made in the report for ASX-listed companies.
These targets include transparency with staff around pay, annual gender pay analyses, public commitments and tangible action during the employment process.
“The United States has taken the lead with regards to investor action to address gender pay equity issues through devices such as shareholder resolutions,” the authors said.
“Australian investors should take heed to these movements, and seek to ensure that Australian companies are adequately addressing gender pay equity issues within their own operations, as failure to do so can lead to litigation, reputational and operational risk.”

Property
How to turn your ‘costly’ lifestyle investment into a money-making asset
Emotionally driven holiday home buyers are being advised to seek maximum rental income and depreciation benefits to make their investments viable. ...Read more

Property
Dutch e-commerce giant VidaXL ramping up Australian operations
Netherlands-based online retailer VidaXL is ramping up its operations in Australia, by launching the build of a brand new 81,000 sq m national distribution centre in Melbourne. ...Read more

Property
Invest in property or watch savings dwindle, expert warns
Money is cheaper than it’s ever been on the back of a favourable interest rate environment, compelling Aussies to shift away from other types of investment vehicles and into property investment. ...Read more

Property
Is 2021 a great year to buy property? Aussies think so
2021 is tipped to be one of the busiest years for property ever as money remains cheap and readily accessible, with a majority of Aussies agreeing that now is a good time to buy. ...Read more

Property
Young Aussies set their sights on home ownership in 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated younger Australians’ desire to own their own home, despite affordability remaining a significant concern, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Property
HomeBuilder stimulus causing surge in new houses: ABS
Housing schemes such as HomeBuilder and historically low-interest rates are causing a surge in new properties being built in Australia, official stats have shown. ...Read more

Property
Cancelled gap years could trigger first home buyer frenzy
COVID-19’s cancellation of travel plans could fuel demand from first home buyers in Western Australia, according to a chief executive. ...Read more

Property
When will Australia crack the $1m median house price?
A property investor has predicted Australia’s median house price will surge to over $1 million in the next three years, as the economic recovery acts as a tailwind for the industry. ...Read more

Property
How to turn your ‘costly’ lifestyle investment into a money-making asset
Emotionally driven holiday home buyers are being advised to seek maximum rental income and depreciation benefits to make their investments viable. ...Read more

Property
Dutch e-commerce giant VidaXL ramping up Australian operations
Netherlands-based online retailer VidaXL is ramping up its operations in Australia, by launching the build of a brand new 81,000 sq m national distribution centre in Melbourne. ...Read more

Property
Invest in property or watch savings dwindle, expert warns
Money is cheaper than it’s ever been on the back of a favourable interest rate environment, compelling Aussies to shift away from other types of investment vehicles and into property investment. ...Read more

Property
Is 2021 a great year to buy property? Aussies think so
2021 is tipped to be one of the busiest years for property ever as money remains cheap and readily accessible, with a majority of Aussies agreeing that now is a good time to buy. ...Read more

Property
Young Aussies set their sights on home ownership in 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated younger Australians’ desire to own their own home, despite affordability remaining a significant concern, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Property
HomeBuilder stimulus causing surge in new houses: ABS
Housing schemes such as HomeBuilder and historically low-interest rates are causing a surge in new properties being built in Australia, official stats have shown. ...Read more

Property
Cancelled gap years could trigger first home buyer frenzy
COVID-19’s cancellation of travel plans could fuel demand from first home buyers in Western Australia, according to a chief executive. ...Read more

Property
When will Australia crack the $1m median house price?
A property investor has predicted Australia’s median house price will surge to over $1 million in the next three years, as the economic recovery acts as a tailwind for the industry. ...Read more