Dissenting Report

The ‘Raising the Standard’ procedure report has not received unanimous support because of recommendations number 5 and 6.

Recommendation 5

The Coalition rejects Recommendation 5, which recommends the establishment of a House Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

The Committee heard evidence from Dr Palmieri that regular debates about gender equality, diversity and inclusion would provide a forum to promote the good work that is happening to advance these issues in Members’ electorates.

In addition, they could provide an opportunity for Members to acknowledge issues and discuss potential solutions or approaches.[1] When queried on the mechanism for such debates to occur, Dr Palmieri supported relatively frequent, short debates:

You could have half an hour. For example, one of the adjournment debates in the week could just be a GEDSI [gender equality, diversity and social inclusion] adjournment debate. So every member gets up to talk about GEDSI initiatives. It could be five minutes or three minutes. You want to get as many members as possible talking about what is happening in their communities. You could also just do it once in a sitting fortnight.[2]

Coalition Members note that members currently have the opportunity to speak to topics of their choosing on several occasions each sitting week. This includes:

the adjournment debates
Members’ statements
the grievance debate, and
private Members’ motions.

It is open to Members to discuss matters of gender equality, diversity and inclusion if they wish.

The recommendation that a House Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion examine every piece of legislation is clearly unworkable and would stymie the efficient passage of legislation through the Parliament.

In addition, the Coalition notes that all legislation is prepared in accordance with a statement of compatibility with human rights which considers, amongst other things, the protection of discrimination of the grounds of sex.

Recommendation 6

The Coalition rejects Recommendation 6, which recommends that during the next major review of the standing orders removal of masculine and feminine pronouns from standing orders be considered.

There is already gender-neutral language that naturally exists in the Australian Parliament, as noted in the Set the Standard report.

The Coalition believes the Government should focus on improving the lives of Australians facing increased cost of living pressures.

Mr Ross Vasta MP

Deputy Chair

3 August 2023

Mr Colin Boyce MP

3 August 2023

Mr Terry Young MP

3 August 2023

Footnotes

[1]Dr Sonia Palmieri, Private capacity, Transcript of evidence, 13 February 2023, p. 6.

[2]Palmieri, Transcript of evidence, 13 February 2023, p. 6.