Social

Female participation in the workforce hits record high

ELIZA BAVIN  |  MONDAY, 18 AUG 2025  |  NEWS
The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.2% in July with a record number of women entering the workforce.

HESTA calls for reforms to help women in retirement

ELIZA BAVIN  |  FRIDAY, 1 AUG 2025  |  NEWS
HESTA has welcomed the recent superannuation guarantee increase to 12% but said more needs to be done to boost retirement outcomes for women.

IFM Investors launches modern slavery framework

KARREN VERGARA  |  THURSDAY, 31 JUL 2025  |  NEWS
As institutional investors grapple with addressing modern slavery in their investment processes, a new paper by IFM Investors provides a framework on how they can start tackling a problem that is often invisible.

HESTA progresses gender diversity targets

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  MONDAY, 16 JUN 2025  |  NEWS
HESTA is doubling down on its commitment to working with more gender diverse investment teams, saying that as of this year it no longer works with any all-male external managers.

Australia ranks 13th on gender parity

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  FRIDAY, 13 JUN 2025  |  NEWS
The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025 shows Australia's gender parity has improved markedly in the past 12 months.

Australia's $800bn food industry has highest hidden costs per capita

MATTHEW WAI  |  FRIDAY, 6 JUN 2025  |  NEWS
CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, has released its inaugural report on the $800 billion Australian food industry, highlighting the importance of identifying and measuring "hidden costs" to ensure sustainability.

'Surreal', 'difficult' times for sustainable investors: RIAA

KARREN VERGARA  |  THURSDAY, 29 MAY 2025  |  NEWS
A leading voice for sustainable investing in the US admits the anti-ESG movement has been "difficult" and "surreal" as investors fear being overly scrutinised, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) Conference heard. There are, however ...

Housing supply still in doldrums, affordability to improve: NHSAC

KARREN VERGARA  |  MONDAY, 26 MAY 2025  |  NEWS
While the supply of new housing is near its lowest level in a decade, a new report from the government shows that housing affordability is expected to broadly stabilise over the next four years.

Trump presidency pushes Aussies to ethical super fund

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  FRIDAY, 11 APR 2025  |  NEWS
The inauguration of President Donald Trump in the US and the heightened volatility and uncertainty that has followed has been a boon for Future Super, the fund says.

Westpac launches social term deposit

ELIZA BAVIN  |  THURSDAY, 20 MAR 2025  |  NEWS
The major bank has launched Australia's first Social Tailored Deposit, designed for those seeking investments focused on delivering improved social outcomes.