Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Instrument 2023

made under section 19 of the

Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 4 April 2025

Includes amendments: F2025L00474

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Instrument 2023 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 4 April 2025 (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 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 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 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name

3 Authority

5 Definitions

Part 2—Gender equality standards

6 Gender equality standards

Part 3—Application, saving and transitional provisions

7 Application of Workplace Gender Equality (Minimum Standards) Instrument 2014

8 Application of Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Amendment Instrument 2025

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

 

  This instrument is the Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Instrument 2023.

  This instrument is made under section 19 of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:

(a) designated relevant employer;

(b) gender equality indicators;

(c) gender equality standard;

(d) governing body;

(e) relevant employer;

(f) reporting period.

  In this instrument:

Act means the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

 

 (1) For the purposes of subsection 19(1) of the Act, the gender equality standards set in subsection (3) of this section are set in relation to a designated relevant employer.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection 19(1) of the Act, the gender equality standards set in subsection (3) of this section are set in relation to a reporting period:

 (a) for a designated relevant employer that is a Commonwealth company or Commonwealth entity—commencing on 1 January 2024 and each subsequent reporting period; and

 (b) for any other designated relevant employer—commencing on 1 April 2023 and each subsequent reporting period.

 (3) For the purposes of subsection 19(1) of the Act, the following gender equality standards are set in relation to each gender equality indicator specified in the following table:

 (a) a designated relevant employer must have in place policies or strategies to support each gender equality indicator specified in column 1 of the table;

 (b) the policies or strategies must aim to achieve the objective specified in column 2 of the table for each gender equality indicator.

 

Item

Column 1

Gender equality indicator

Column 2

Objective

1

Gender composition of the workforce

Supporting gender equality in the designated relevant employer’s workplace

2

Gender composition of governing bodies of relevant employers

Supporting and achieving gender equality in the designated relevant employer’s governing body

3

Equal remuneration between women and men

In relation to employees of the designated relevant employer, ensuring equal remuneration between women and men

4

Availability and utility of employment terms, conditions and practices relating to flexible working arrangements for employees and to working arrangements supporting employees with family or caring responsibilities

Providing effective flexible working arrangements for employees of the designated relevant employer with family or caring responsibilities

5

Consultation with employees on issues concerning gender equality in the workplace

Ensuring employees are consulted and have input on issues concerning gender equality in the designated relevant employer’s workplace

6

Sexual harassment, harassment on the ground of sex or discrimination

Prevention of, and appropriate response to, sexual harassment, harassment on the ground of sex or discrimination in the designated relevant employer’s workplace

 

 

  Despite the repeal of the Workplace Gender Equality (Minimum Standards) Instrument 2014 (the 2014 instrument) by this instrument, the 2014 instrument, as in force immediately before that repeal, continues to apply in relation to a reporting period that commenced before the repeal of the 2014 instrument.

  The amendments made by the Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Amendment Instrument 2025 apply in relation to a reporting period that commences on a day after the day that instrument commences.

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)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

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

 

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Instrument 2023

5 Feb 2025 (F2023L00086)

6 Feb 2025 (s 2(1) item 1)

 

Workplace Gender Equality (Gender Equality Standards) Amendment Instrument 2025

2 Apr 2025 (F2025L00474)

4 Apr 2025 (s 2(1) item 1)

—

 

 

Provision affected

How affected

Part 1

 

s 2.....................

rep LA s 48D

s 4.....................

rep LA s 48C

s 5.....................

am F2025L00474

Part 2

 

Part 2 heading.............

rs F2025L00474

s 6.....................

am F2025L00474

Part 3

 

s 8.....................

ad F2025L00474

Schedule 1................

rep LA s 48C