The gender pay gap at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has grown in the past year, with the space between median wages now at 10.2 percent – up from a last-reported 9.8 percent.
The Australian reports that a note sent to staff this week shows the median total remuneration gap between the sexes has significantly grown, in figures that will be published by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) next week.
The note, sent on Tuesday by the broadcaster’s chief people officer Deena Amorelli, read in part that the ABC pledges it is “committed to achieving gender equality and fostering a workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and equitable for all”.
The ABC’s gender pay gap statement February 2026
A full public statement was later posted on the ABC’s website.
It begins by promising, “The ABC will continue to address the underlying drivers of its gender pay gap, and will maintain transparency in its progress towards fostering a more equitable workplace.”
The statement adds, “The ABC will continue to address the underlying drivers of its gender pay gap, and will maintain transparency in its progress towards fostering a more equitable workplace.”
It lists as gender pay gap drivers:
“A higher proportion of women in bands 2 to 5 than men. A lower proportion of women employees in bands 5 to 9 than men. Higher average shift penalty and overtime payments to men than to women. ”
The statement also lists six ways the broadcaster intends to address the issue, including, “Gender representation targets: The ABC has committed to 50% of all roles being filled by women.”
The beginning of the ABC’s WGEA statement. Image: The ABC
The ABC called out for gender pay gap
Opposition communications and digital safety spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said the ABC must explain with more detail why the gap has widened.
“The ABC’s gender pay gap places it well outside the target range of large employers,” she said.
“Our national broadcaster needs to explain why women’s remuneration is so far behind that of men.
“In contrast to disclosure requirements at the BBC, the ABC keeps secret the salaries and other benefits received by highly paid staff except for a small number of executives.
“Much greater transparency about pay and conditions at the ABC, which receives more than $1.2 billion in taxpayer funds each year, is in the national interest.”
An ABC spokesperson told The Australian:
“The ABC is aware the latest Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) data show a small increase in the pay gap from 2023 to 2024 and is committed to achieving gender equality and fostering a workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful and equitable for all.
“The ABC has implemented a number of initiatives to address barriers to workforce participation and progression, including developing new gender equality targets in line with the new requirements from WGEA, and will continue to review the targets.”