A foxy answer.

However the OP's question was hopefully directed at establishing if any Award preferences men over women as far as pay and conditions are concerned.

That is, do all Awards treat men and women equally. The honest and ONLY answer is an emphatic YES!

Instead, the OP is being referred to the very flawed apples and oranges 'comparisons' of the usual suspects whose careers depend on claiming that women are victims who are somehow being discriminated against by society.

What about the facts though?

It is only to be expected that a generalist graduate for example who likely majored in gender studies is likely to limit herself to the Public Service. You have to skill yourself for the work that pays, if pay is your goal.

Likewise where an employee is prepared to do the hard yards and stay with a job and employer to complete, become familiar with and be judged for the full range of activities associated with the work will be paid accordingly.

If women want to even the pay there is an abundance of choice in the trades and jolly good pay too. Likewise, even after all sorts of affirmative action targets and incentives, few women are prepared to do engineering or IT as examples. Then again, none seem interested in plumbing.

Pay is linked to what the market wants, skills shortfalls and as well, work that is dangerous, dirty and disgusting must pay a premium to get and keep workers. Few women might volunteer to be the house mouse on a drilling rig for instance, yet that pays very well and for no skills, only the willingness to always turn up, take some responsibility and get along with people.

Dear Bibbie,

The evidence is crystal clear and there are plenty of websites
to choose from regarding the issue of the gap in pay between males and
females in this country.

The following link gives a good insight in that it gives a breakdown
by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) by professions:

http://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/2013-02-Gender%20pay%20gap%statistics.pdf

cont'd ...

My apologies for the previous typo.
Here's the correct link:

http://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/2013-02-Gender%20pay%20gap%20statistics.pdf

Very foxy in still not answering the question. Nor does that reply address the criticisms I have made earlier, viz, apples and oranges.

All employment Awards MUST treat men and women equally.

Nothing simpler than that.

"The Sex Discrimination Act makes it against the law to treat you unfairly because of your: sex; marital status; family responsibilities; because you are pregnant or might become pregnant; or because you are breastfeeding.

The Sex Discrimination Act also makes sexual harassment against the law."

and

"What does the Sex Discrimination Act do?

The Sex Discrimination Act aims to ensure that women and men are treated equally and have the same opportunities.

The Act protects you against discrimination in many areas of public life, including:

.. employment – getting a job, terms and conditions of a job, training, promotion, being dismissed

.. education – enrolling or studying in a course at a private or public school, college or university

.. accommodation – renting or buying a house or unit getting or using services – such as banking and insurance services, services provided by government departments, transport or telecommunication services, professional services like those provided by lawyers, doctors or tradespeople, services provided by restaurants, shops or entertainment venues."

Australian Human Rights Commission
www.humanrights.gov.au

OTB,

My rules on this forum are simple and few.
I don't argue with, or respond to, certain posters.
You're one of them.

Foxy,
That's one of my rules too.
Welcome back, by the way :)

I think we are all aware of the obvious differences in pay in some work areas.
We still have a long way to go to achieve equality for women in a few other areas too...