Sex Discrimination Commissioner calls for urgent action on gender discrimination in sold-out National Press Club address
Australian Human Rights Commission
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody has today delivered a sold-out address at the National Press Club, setting out a bold vision for the future of gender equality in Australia.
‘This is a critical moment for gender equality,’ Dr Cody said. ‘It’s time to challenge outdated systems, rethink how we value each other, and build a future where everyone is safe, respected and included.’
Drawing on decades of legal advocacy, policy reform and lived experience, Dr Cody called on governments, workplaces and communities to reimagine how we approach gender norms, value care work, redefine merit, and respond to gendered violence with urgency and accountability.
The address comes at a pivotal time, as the gender pay gap persists, workplace sexual harassment remains widespread, and women – particularly those from marginalised communities – continue to face systemic barriers that restrict their choices, safety and freedom.
‘We must have urgent, coordinated action across all levels of government,’ says Dr Cody. ‘I am calling for a national prevalence survey on workplace sexual harassment in 2026, education on healthy relationships and consent from early childhood, and investment in community-led justice reinvestment to address domestic and family violence.
‘Let’s be courageous in our efforts, be bold and try something, even if it seems small. Let’s centre equality in our lives.’
You can read the Commissioner’s full address here: https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/sex-discrimination-commissioners-national-press-club-address
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Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody
