- Eligible suppliers to government to disclose compliance with gender equality reporting requirements
- Cook Government demonstrates commitment to workplace choices for women
The Cook Government is continuing to leverage its purchasing power to drive better outcomes for women in the workplace, through changes in public sector procurement.
From 1 July 2024, all eligible suppliers bidding for State agency contracts will be required to disclose their compliance with Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reporting obligations. Several government trading enterprises will also implement gender responsive procurement measures in a separate pilot project.
This follows the successful two-year pilot by the Department of Communities, supported by the Department of Finance, in which a clause relating to gender equality was included in certain procurement documents.
The gender equality disclosure clause will be asked of suppliers with 100 or more employees. They will be required to provide evidence of their compliance with reporting requirements under the Commonwealth’s Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (WGEA) when submitting bids in response to publicly advertised requests.
The Act requires employers to report annually against six gender equality indicators, including workforce gender composition, remuneration, practices relating to leave and flexible working arrangements, consultation with employees on gender equality matters and company policies regarding sexual harassment and discrimination.
This new initiative will continue to raise awareness of the benefits of workplace gender equality and drive improved practices amongst suppliers who do business with Government.
Western Australia was one of the first jurisdictions in Australia to introduce a gender equality clause into selected public sector procurement processes.
Since the Gender Equality in Procurement Pilot (the Pilot) was introduced in July 2022, participating public sector agencies have awarded more than 365 contracts worth more than $870 million to 600 suppliers, through procurement processes which included the gender equality clause.
Outcomes of the pilot also showed that more than 90 per cent of relevant suppliers (100 or more employees) awarded contracts under the Pilot were compliant with their WGEA reporting obligations.
Smaller suppliers awarded contracts under the Pilot are also reporting a higher-than-expected level of workplace gender equality actions and policies, such as having work practices to facilitate family or caring responsibilities, which are still largely carried out by women.
As stated by Finance and Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
“This permanent inclusion of the gender equality clause signals to suppliers the importance the Cook Government places on supporting women in our State.
“We are all responsible for creating the cultural change that can facilitate women’s participation, achieves positive results and contributes to strengthening our economic outcomes.
“From 1 July, suppliers seeking contracts with the WA Government will be required to answer questions in procurement documents about their compliance with reporting that supports workplace gender equality.
“This initiative demonstrates our continued commitment to driving cultural change to support greater workplace choices for women.”
