On 9 November 2016, the following matter was referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 March 2017:

Gender segregation in the workplace and its impact on women's economic equality, with particular reference to:

1. the nature and extent of industrial and occupational gender segregation in Australian workplaces relative to comparable jurisdictions, including gender segregation in tertiary education courses;
2. factors driving industrial and occupational gender segregation in the Australian context;
3. economic consequences of gender segregation for women, including the contribution of industrial and occupational gender segregation to the gender pay gap;
4. approaches to addressing gender segregation as it relates to economic inequality and the gender pay gap in comparable jurisdictions; and
5. remedies appropriate for Australia, including but not limited to:
   1. measures to encourage women’s participation in male - dominated occupations and industries,
   2. measures to professionalise and improve conditions in female - dominated occupations and industries, and
   3. measures to promote pay equity.

Submission closing date is 3 March 2017. The reporting date is 30 March 2016. On 13 February 2017, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 11 May 2017. On 9 May 2017, the Committee was granted a further extension to 7 June 2017.