Australia has failed to make the top 40 in the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Index, dropping 5 places in 2 years. In East Asia and the Pacific, Australia fails to make the top 10, sitting below the Philippines and Laos. The Global Gender Gap Report lists Iceland as the most equal country overall, with Norway 2^nd, Finland 4^th, then Sweden, Nicaragua and New Zealand.

Although Australia continues to lead the world in closing the education gender gap, we rank 49^th on economic participation, 57^th on political empowerment and 104^th on health. Compare this with 2006 when Australia ranked 15^th overall, 12^th on economic participation, 32^nd on political empowerment, 57^th on health but number one on education.

The Forum warns internationally, at the current rate of efforts being made, gender parity is a century away and the gender pay gap won’t be closed for 257 years.