We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

Skip to Content
University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo.
  • Search
  • Give
  • Library
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • UOW Global
    • Our global presence
    • UOW in Dubai
    • UOW in Hong Kong
    • UOW in Malaysia
  • Menu
  • Study at UOW

    • Courses
    • Apply
    • Scholarships & grants
    • Accommodation
    • High-school students
    • Non-school leavers
    • Postgraduate students
    • International students
    • Moving to Wollongong
    • Study abroad & exchange
    • Global sport programs
    • Campuses
    Study at UOW
  • Engage

    • Future student
    • Alumni
    • Visit UOW
    • Woolyungah Indigenous Centre
    • Volunteer
    • The Stand Magazine
    • Community Members
    • Grants and funding
    • Give to UOW
    • Visit the Library
    • Key contacts
    • Educators & school teachers
    Engage with us
  • About UOW

    • Welcome
    • Our people
    • Services
    • Contacts
    • What's on
    • Global presence
    • Media Centre
    • Faculties & schools
    • Our vision & strategy
    • Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Strategy
    • Our reputation & experience
    • Locations, campuses & partners
    See more about UOW
  • Research

    • Our research
    • Researcher support
    • Research impact
    • Partnership & collaboration
    • Graduate Research School
    • Commercial research
    • Global Challenges
    • Media, news & events
    • Find an expert
    • Our people
    See more about research
  • Industry

    • Generator Lab
    • Advantage SME
    • Success stories
    • Industry research engagement
    • Equipment & Labs
    • Funding opportunities
    • Intellectual property
    • Collaboration for business
    • Collaboration for researchers
    • Careers and employability
    See more about Industry
  • Alumni

    • Benefits
    • Outlook Magazine
    • Events & webinars
    • Volunteer
    • Awards
    • Honorary alumni
    • Testamurs & transcripts
    • Update your details
    • Your career journey
    • Contact us & FAQ
    See more about alumni
  • Quick links

    • Contact directory
    • Staff Intranet
    • Campus maps
    • Transport & parking
    • Key dates
    • Events
    • Password management
    • Jobs
    • Accommodation
    • Policy directory
  • Library
You are here More Pages
  • Home
  • About UOW
  • Media Centre
  • 2015
  • Lecture and book launch focus on growing economic inequality

Media Quick Links

  • Contact UOW Media
  • Visiting campus
  • Image library
  • UOW key facts
  • Find an expert
  • News Corp subscription
  • Sign up for the latest news from UOW Media

May 21, 2015


  • Story By
  • Jacqueline Wales
Share
Type
General News
Category
Business and Economy
Tags
PoliticsEconomics

UOW in the News

Lecture and book launch focus on growing economic inequality

Federal politician delivers 2015 Economic and Social Policy Public Lecture.


A former professor of economics turned Federal politician -- who penned the book ‘Battlers and Billionaires: The Story of Inequality in Australia’—yesterday (20 May) delivered the 2015 Economic and Social Policy Public Lecture at the University of Wollongong.

The Labor Member for Fraser in the ACT, the Hon. Dr Andrew Leigh, MP, who was formerly the Professor of Economics at the Australian National University, presented the public lecture entitled, ‘Why Should We Care About Inequality?’.

He highlighted that earnings have risen three times as fast for the top decile as the bottom decile.

The top 1 per cent share has doubled and the top 0.1 per cent share has tripled, Dr Leigh pointed out.

“The richest three Australians have more wealth than the poorest one million.”

But Dr Leigh posed the question: Does inequality matter? He discussed the economic arguments against inequality and evaluated the theories and empirical evidence.

“While some arguments against inequality do not hold up, there are good reasons to think that too much inequality may indeed be harmful,” he said.

According to figures released earlier this year, Australia’s gender pay gap is now at a two decade high, he said.

“Part of the reason for this is that many of the lowest paid occupations -- child care workers, hairdressers, cleaners, the majority are female. While many of the highest paid occupations - surgeons, financial dealers, the majority are male. As the pay gap between child care workers and surgeons rose, the gender pay gap rose too.”

“Recognising how economic inequality impedes gender equality is an important facet of address inequality in Australia. Inequality is becoming a central issue of our age.”

“Inequality matters for instrumental reasons but mostly for intrinsic ones. Put simply, most of us want a more egalitarian Australian than we have today. a richer conversation about inequality is not only in the interests of the disadvantaged but all Australians who want to maintain a fair society.”

  • Read Dr Leigh's speech, Why should we care about inequality? - 2015 Economic and Social policy Lecture

Leigh visits IC

While in Wollongong, Dr Leigh visited the UOW Innovation Campus and iAccelerate.

Speaking to the Illawarra Mercury, Dr Leigh described the iAccelerate initiative as a great example of looking to the future and the delivery of new-age jobs.

“Facilities like this one are really pivotal to maintaining prosperity for Australia over the decades to come,” he said.

Read more: Pollies in visit to UOW Innovation Campus | Illawarra Mercury

BOOK LAUNCH: THE 1% AND THE REST OF US

Following the lecture, Dr Leigh helped to launch a book, ‘The 1% And The Rest Of Us’, by Dr Tim DiMuzio of UOW’s Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts.

Dr Tim DiMuzio at his book launch

The book explores what it means to be part of a socio-economic order presided over by the super-rich and their political servants. It incorporates provocative and original arguments about philanthropy, social wealth and the political role of the super-rich.

While the Occupy movement faces many strategic and organisational challenges, one of its major accomplishments has been to draw global attention to the massive disparity of income, wealth and privilege held by 1 per cent of the population in nations across the world, according to Dr DiMuzio.

Media Contacts for this article

UOW Media Office

You may also be interested in

Robodebt not only broke the laws of the land – it also broke laws of mathematics
Boosting Illawarra’s economy, one start-up at a time
Entrepreneurs showcase local business and compete for top prizes
Services & Help
  • Current students
  • Library
  • Information technology
  • Accommodation
  • Security & safety
  • Pool, gym & retail
News, Media & Events
  • Media Centre
  • The Stand
  • Alumni Magazine
  • Research news
  • Events
  • Find an expert
Faculties
  • Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
  • Business & Law
  • Engineering & Information Sciences
  • Science, Medicine & Health
Administration
  • Graduation
  • Environment
  • Policy directory
  • Learning and teaching
  • Financial Services
  • Access to information
  • Jobs
UOW Entities
  • Innovation Campus
  • UOW College Australia
  • UOW College Hong Kong
  • UOW in Dubai
  • UOW Global Enterprises
  • UOW Malaysia KDU
  • UOW Pulse
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Conversation
  • Contact us
  • Feedback
  • Give to UOW

Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia 
Phone: 1300 367 869 
International: +61 2 4221 3218 
Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555

  • NUW Alliance: Smarter Solutions for NSW
  • University Global Partnership Network (UGPN)
  • Reconciliation Australia
  • AWEI LGBTQ inclusion awards logo

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.

Copyright © 2023 University of Wollongong
CRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686
Copyright & disclaimer | Privacy & cookie usage | Web Accessibility Statement

Close