Gender equity insights 2017: inside Australia's gender pay gap

A new analysis of Agency data shows that sizeable gender pay gaps persist across the workforce, but that improving gender balance in leadership teams measurably improves pay equity in organisations. Gender Equity Insights 2017: Inside Australia\u27s Gender Pay Gap, the second in the BCEC|WGEA Gender Equity Insights series, also reveals that male graduates are more likely to access high paying roles than female graduates. Key findings: Increasing the representation of women in executive leadership roles is associated with lowering gender pay gaps. Organisations with the lowest share of female executive leaders have an average gender pay gap double the size of those with an equal share of women in senior roles: 20% compared with 10%. Organisations that increased the share of women in executive leadership roles by more than 10% recorded a reduction in the organisational gender pay gap of 3 percentage points over the course of a single year. Overall, the median gender pay gaps for full-time graduate trainees are 2.9% on base salary and 2.1% on total remuneration. However, the gender pay gap for graduate trainees progressively widens among the top echelons of salary earners. The highest-paid 10% of women in graduate trainee positions receive at least $81,000 in base salary, whereas the highest-paid 10$88,000. The average gender pay gap declines as female representation among management increases. The managerial gender pay gap falls steadily from around 15% in total remuneration among firms where one-fifth of managers (20%) are female, to 8% for organisations where four-fifths of managers (80%) are female. However, gender pay gaps are seen to rise sharply in workplaces with the highest concentrations of female managers. For organisations with a greater than 80% share of female managers, the management gender pay gap rises from around 8% to more than 17% in favour of men

Corruption perceptions index 2016

Transparency International\u27s latest corruption perceptions index shows more countries declined than improved in this year\u27s results, showing the urgent need for committed action to thwart corruption. Over two-thirds of the 176 countries and territories in this year\u27s index fall below the midpoint of our scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The global average score is a paltry 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country\u27s public sector

How advertising fuels fake news

In this second post in our blog series on \u27fake news\u27, Damian Tambini illustrates the underlying structures of the online advertising industry that make fake news lucrative. One of the questions in the UK Parliament’s inquiry into \u27fake news\u27 asks: “Have changes in the selling and placing of advertising encouraged the growth of fake news, for example by making it profitable to use fake news to attract more hits to websites, and thus more income from advertisers?” This question is arguably the most important the committee asks, because it invites an analysis of the economic structures that support fake news. It enables us to cut through philosophical questions about ‘what is truth’ and the political uses of the idea (e.g. by Trump)  and ask whether something has changed in the media system which would explain the apparent proliferation of “fake news”. The graphic below summarises the money-go-round that incentivises distribution of any content that is \u27shareable\u27 and resonant, in contrast to the previous ad model that tended to support news that goes through an (expensive) process of verification or meets a quality standard. Continued via link

The human capital factor: generating, attracting and retaining human capital in regional Australia

In the field of labor economics, human capital refers to the stock of knowledge or characteristics of a worker that contributes to their productivity. Investment in education and training of individuals can enhance their level of human capital and this will be valued in the market because it increases firms’ profits. Various researchers have looked at the intersection of migration and human capital suggesting that higher levels of human capital are found in cities and that areas with high levels of human capital act as an attractor for individuals with high levels of skills and education. This self-reinforcing process of attraction raises many questions in the context of Australia’s urban primacy, as it suggests that capital cities will enjoy a cumulative gain in human capital over time, potentially at the expense of non-metropolitan areas. Net flows of young adults from regional to metropolitan Australia reinforces the concentration of economic activity and a relatively young metropolitan labour force. At the same time, it has led to a gradual ageing of the population structure and a depletion of human capital in many rural communities, placing constraints for local development, particularly through skills shortages and difficulty attracting professional workers. This paper explores whether the loss of regional capital from regional areas is inevitable. It poses a number of questions for discussion such as: Are there non-traditional ways in which regional communities can access or generate human capital? Can human capital be enhanced via mobility rather than permanent migration

Certain questioning and detention powers in relation to terrorism

Introduction This report is to review the operation, effectiveness, and implications, of the relevant legislation, including consideration as to whether it: contains appropriate safeguards for protecting the rights of individuals; remains proportionate to the threat of terrorism, or threat to national security, or both; and remains necessary. Assessment as to whether the legislation is being used for matters unrelated to terrorism and national security is required. I must have regard to Australia’s obligations under international agreements and to the arrangements agreed from time to time between the Commonwealth, the States, and the Territories, to ensure a national approach to countering terrorism. A review of div 3 of pt III of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (Cth) (ASIO Act) and any other provision of that Act as far as it relates to that division, pursuant to s 6(1)(b) of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010 (Cth) (INSLM Act) is required to be completed by 7 September 2017. That division provides the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) with special powers relating to terrorism offences, being questioning warrants (QWs), and questioning and detention warrants (QDWs), and related matters. That time limit requires that the review take place notwithstanding s 9 of the INSLM Act. A review of pt IC of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (Crimes Act) is also one of the functions of the office. That part provides for the detention (and questioning) of persons arrested for Commonwealth offences. Subdivision B of div 2 deals with terrorism offences. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (formerly the Australian Crime Commission) (ACIC) has compulsory questioning powers. The arrangements that are in place mean that those powers apply to certain terrorism offences, and to that extent, may be reviewed pursuant to s 6(1)(b) of the INSLM Act. Combining those reviews provides a better perspective than separate reviews and is the best use of limited resources. The existence and exercise of other powers relating to counter-terrorism and national security vested in federal and state bodies form part of the backdrop to this review and report. The previous Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), Mr Bret Walker SC, reviewed and made recommendations about ASIO QWs, and QDWs, in chs IV and V of his 2012 Annual Report. He dealt with police powers of questioning post-arrest and pre-charge in Appendix F of the same report, but made no recommendations as to them. He touched on pre-emptive detention for questioning by the then Australian Crime Commission, and the New South Wales Crime Commission, in ch V of that report. The principal recommendation was that QDWs be abolished by repeal of the relevant statutory provisions. That recommendation has not been acted on. Several changes to the QW procedures were recommended, some based on the assumption that QDWs would be abolished. Only some have been adopted. These powers are revisited in this report in light of experience over recent years and the current security situation. This review has involved public and private written submissions, public and private hearings, private consultations, and the voluntary and compulsory provision of information. As much material as possible has been published on the INSLM website. The submissions published there give a comprehensive account of the considerations and arguments that have been advanced and taken into account. It is unnecessary to reproduce all of that information in this report. An account of the review process may be found at Appendix 1. I should immediately say there is no evidence any of the powers under review, the use of which has been based on terrorism or national security, have been used for matters unrelated to terrorism or national security. Roger Gyles Independent National Security Legislation Monitor &nbsp

A future that works: automation, employment, and productivity

Automation is happening, and it will bring substantial benefits to businesses and economies worldwide, but it won’t arrive overnight. A new McKinsey Global Institute report finds realizing automation’s full potential requires people and technology to work hand in hand. Recent developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning have put us on the cusp of a new automation age. Robots and computers can not only perform a range of routine physical work activities better and more cheaply than humans, but they are also increasingly capable of accomplishing activities that include cognitive capabilities once considered too difficult to automate successfully, such as making tacit judgments, sensing emotion, or even driving. Automation will change the daily work activities of everyone, from miners and landscapers to commercial bankers, fashion designers, welders, and CEOs. But how quickly will these automation technologies become a reality in the workplace? And what will their impact be on employment and productivity in the global economy

How can education for sustainability create systemic change?

This chapter reports on an inquiry that investigated the current impact and how to increase the impact of an active citizenship education program that contains key elements of education for sustainability: imagining a better future, systemic thinking, critical thinking and reflection, participation in decision-making, and working in partnerships. While it is argued in the literature that education for sustainability programs that contain these elements will be transformational for participants and that graduates from these programs will be able to influence systemic change, the study found that graduates could not influence systemic change. To increase the program’s impact a model for creating the conditions for systemic community change was developed. This model focuses on building the adaptive capacity of communities and is informed by complex systems leadership, public administration and soft power theories. To determine how to increase the systemic impact of the active citizenship program, the program was analysed through the lens of this model. The chapter argues that while education for sustainability programs cannot in isolation create systemic change, education for sustainability programs have an important role to play as one component in an ecosystem of initiatives for creating systemic change

Australia state of the environment 2016: overview

In the past five years (2011–16), environmental policies and management practices in Australia have achieved improvements in the state and trends of parts of the Australian environment. Australia’s built environment, natural and cultural heritage, and marine and Antarctic environments are generally in good condition. There are, however, areas where the condition of the environment is poor and/or deteriorating. These include the more populated coastal areas and some of the growth areas within urban environments, where human pressure is greatest (particularly in southeastern Australia); and the extensive land-use zone of Australia, where grazing is considered a major threat to biodiversity. In Australia, the key drivers of environmental change are population growth and economic activity. The extent to which these drivers lead to environmental impacts depends on a range of factors, including: how many of us there are where and how we live the goods and services we produce (for both domestic and export markets) and consume the technologies we use to produce our energy, food, materials and transport how we manage the waste we produce. Keeping impacts within limits is one key to a sustainable future. If not managed well, drivers can generate pressures that have immediate and long-term negative consequences for the environment. If managed well, however, drivers can be harnessed to achieve environmental benefits. The main pressures facing the Australian environment today are the same as in 2011: climate change, landuse change, habitat fragmentation and degradation, and invasive species. In addition, the interactions between these and other pressures are resulting in cumulative impacts, amplifying the threats faced by the Australian environment. Evidence shows that some individual pressures on the environment have decreased since 2011, such as those associated with air quality, poor agricultural practices, commercial fishing, and oil and gas exploration and production in Australia’s marine environment. During the same time, however, other pressures have increased—for example, those associated with coalmining and the coal-seam gas industry, habitat fragmentation and degradation, invasive species, litter in our coastal and marine environments, and greater traffic volumes in our capital cities. For some parts of the Australian environment, at least, effective policy and management have contributed to improved outcomes for the environment and for people. For example, early indications are that environmental watering in the Murray–Darling Basin driven by the 2012 Murray–Darling Basin Plan, along with the effects of natural floods, have contributed to ecological benefits for stream functioning and biodiversity. In the marine environment, the formation of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority in 2012 has increased scrutiny of offshore petroleum environmental management. This has resulted in better understanding of activity impacts, greater focus on industry compliance and increased levels of preparedness for unplanned events. However, a number of key challenges to the effective management of the Australian environment remain: An overarching national policy that establishes a clear vision for the protection and sustainable management of Australia’s environment to the year 2050 is lacking. Such a program needs to be supported by specific action programs and policy to preserve and, where necessary, restore natural capital and our unique environments, taking into account the need to adapt to climate change complementary policy and strengthened legislative frameworks at the national, state and territory levels efficient, collaborative and complementary planning and decision-making processes across all levels of government, with clear lines of accountability. Poor collaboration and coordination of policies, decisions and management arrangements exists across sectors and between different managers (public and private). Follow-through from policy to action is lacking. Data and long-term monitoring are inadequate. Resources for environmental management and restoration are insufficient. The understanding of, and capacity to identify and measure, cumulative impacts is inadequate, which reduces the potential for coordinated approaches to their management. Meeting these challenges requires: integrated policies and adaptive management actions that address drivers of environmental change and the associated pressures national leadership improved support for decision-making a more strategic focus on planning for a sustainable future new, reliable sources of financing

How many ripped-up contracts will it take?

Forget what you’ve heard about infrastructure – it might be time to put the politics back in ELECTION day for Western Australia is just under a week away, and already tens of thousands have turned out for early voting. If the polls are anything to go on, Labor is looking a solid chance to take government. Locals like to make a point of the west’s being different from the eastern states – “Perth is closer to Jakarta than Canberra, you know?” – and there is plenty going on in the state election to support this, whether it’s the strange Liberal–National–One Nation preference tango or simply the fact that the contest features three long-serving party leaders – Liberal premier Colin Barnett, Labor leader Mark McGowan and, albeit with a brief interregnum, Nationals leader Brendon Grylls – a rare sight in Australia these days. But some things are eerily familiar to the east-coast-dweller’s eye, and none more so than the politics of the Roe 8 freight link. The parallels between that imbroglio and Victoria’s infamous East West Link saga, for instance, are too many to count. An enormously controversial inner-city toll road provoking rolling protests, “direct action” and court challenges; contracts signed with an election only months away, despite declarations by the opposition that they won’t go ahead with the project; sweaty state Labor leaders telling the press pack they will rip up said contracts if they win office (which, when they made those pledges, looked entirely likely); tussles with the feds over redirecting Commonwealth dollars promised to the projects… the more one looks, the uncannier things get. Sydney’s WestConnex is not far below on the déjà vu spectrum, but Roe 8 and East West are so incredibly alike it’s worth asking what exactly is going on here… Read the full articl

​The effect of lockout and last drinks laws on non-domestic assaults in Sydney: an update to September 2016

Aims: To assess the longer-term effects of the 2014 NSW liquor law reforms on levels of violence in the inner Sydney area. Method: Interrupted time series models were used to examine the effects of the legislative reforms introduced in January 2014. Police recorded non-domestic assaults were analysed over the period January 2009 and September 2016. Separate analyses were carried out for the Kings Cross Precinct (KXP); the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct (CBD); an area contiguous with KXP and CBD called the proximal displacement area (PDA); a group of entertainment areas not far from KXP and CBD called the distal displacement area (DDA) and the rest of NSW. Results: Following the reforms statistically significant reductions in non-domestic assault incidents occurred in both the Kings Cross (down 49%) and CBD Entertainment Precincts (down 13%). There was evidence of geographical displacement to surrounding areas with increases in non-domestic assault observed in both the PDA (up 12%) and the DDA (up 17%). The reduction in the combined Kings Cross and CBD Precincts (930 fewer non-domestic assaults) was much greater than the increase in the combined proximal and displacement areas (299 more non-domestic assaults). Conclusion: Restrictions on the availability of alcohol appear to have reduced non-domestic assault in the target Precincts. Continued research is needed to monitor if displacement of these assaults increases further