Gender Equality Act – A Positive Step Towards Equity

Gender Equality Act – A Positive Step Towards Equity

The VLGA welcomes the new Gender Equality Act – the first of its kind in Australia.

The Act compels public entities, including councils, to address systemic barriers to gender equality, and to publicly report against agreed Gender Equality Action Plans.

This Act also reinforces the role of councils in ensuring gender equality, diversity and inclusion measures included in the Local Government Bill 2019 which is currently before the Victorian Legislative Council.

The Gender Equality Act is a positive step towards a society that has equity, with wider social and economic benefits.

Victorian councils are already leading the way in adopting and implementing actions under the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter. As signatories to the Charter, councils are actively working on strategies and actions on encouraging and empowering women from a diverse range of backgrounds to actively participate in decision-making roles in their communities. .

ENDS:

Please attribute to Kathryn Arndt CEO of the VLGA and a member of the Victorian Ministerial Council on Women’s Equality.

Media Contact: Liddy Clark 0403 542 411