The Big Australian’s
risky wokery

When it isn’t slipping millions of dollars into the Yes campaign, BHP is pursuing gender goals that , as Bettina Arndt writes, effectively prod men out the door:

…The 50% goal is not just some pie in the sky aspiration. Oh no. Executives’ jobs and bonuses are on the line if they don’t manage to push more women in and men out. There are strict quotas on hiring females and it won’t matter if you were just hiring the best candidates, if you fail to hire enough women you can expect repercussions, starting with loss of bonus pay.

The discrimination doesn’t stop at hiring – promotion also is more driven by gender than merit. The overall effect is that women are promoted to management, on average, 9 years earlier than men – according to an analysis of the mining industry by accounting firm BDO…

There is a substantial risk, as Bettina notes, of BHP being dragged into court to answer accusations of systematic discrimination and, if found liable, massive payouts to follow.