The national gender pay gap is 14.2%, calculated by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

If you factor in total earnings – like bonuses and overtime – the gap grows to 16.8%. In some states it’s over 20%.

In some industries (like health care and social services) women are, on average, paid almost 25% less – or to express it a different way – men working in health care and social services earn 32% more, on average, than their female colleagues.

On average, women working full-time earned $1575.50 while men working full-time earned $1,837.

A Labor Government will lead a national push to help close the gender pay gap by: 

• Legislating so companies with more than 250 employees will have to report their gender pay gap publicly.
• Prohibiting pay secrecy clauses and giving employees the right to disclose their pay, if they want to.
• Taking action to address the gender pay gap in the Australian Public Service.
• Strengthening the ability and capacity of the Fair Work Commission to order pay increases for workers in low paid, female dominated industries.