Footnotes

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Note that some witnesses and submissions referred to the Act as ‘the SDA’.

[2]        On 4 September 2008, HREOC announced it had changed its name to the Australian Human Rights Commission. Under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 and other relevant legislation, the name of the commission remains the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. The committee has used the acronym HREOC in this report as most of the evidence received by the committee refers to ‘HREOC’.

 

Chapter 2 - Background

[1]        See subsection 3(a) of the Act.

[2]        [1983] ATS 9, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1983/9.html (accessed 29 September 2008), note 2.

[3]        [1983] ATS 9.

[4]        [1983] ATS 9.

[5]        [1983] ATS 9.

[6]        Originally, the combat duties reservation also excluded women from ‘combat related duties’. However, the reservation was narrowed in August 2000. See [1983] ATS 9, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1983/9.html (accessed 29 September 2008), note 2.

[7]        The Hon Susan Ryan AO, ‘The Ryan Juggernaut Rolls On’, UNSW Law Journal, vol 27(3), 2004, pp 829-829; see also Senator the Hon Susan Ryan, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, Senate Hansard, 2 June 1983, p. 1187.

[8]        For a comprehensive account of the history of the Act see HREOC, Submission 69, appendix A.

[9]        The Hon Susan Ryan AO, 2004, p. 829.   

[10]      See for example HREOC, Submission 69, p. 40; Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 5.

[11]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, July 1994, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/alrc/publications/reports/69part1/ (accessed 29 September 2008), para 3.2.

[12]      House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Half Way to Equal: Report of the Inquiry into Equal Opportunity and Equal Status for Women in Australia, Canberra, April 1992.

[13]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, July 1994, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/alrc/publications/reports/69part1/ (accessed 29 September 2008); ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Women’s Equality, ALRC 69 Part II, December 1994, at: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/alrc/publications/reports/69part2/ALRC69part2.pdf (accessed 29 September 2008).

[14]      The 1992 and 1995 amendments represent the most significant changes to the Act. For a more detailed summary of amendments and proposed amendments to the Act see HREOC, Submission 69, pp 270-276.

[15]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 272.

[16]      [1980] ATS 23, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1980/23.html (accessed 29 September 2008).

[17]      [1980] ATS 23.

[18]      [1976] ATS 5, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1976/5.html (accessed 29 September 2008).

[19]      [1974] ATS 12 at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1974/12.html (accessed 29 September 2008).

[20]      [1975] ATS 45, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1975/45.html (accessed 1 October 2008).

[21]      [1991] ATS 7, at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1991/7.html (accessed 29 September 2008); see also Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, pp 5-6.

[22]      Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Report 95: Treaties Tabled on 4 June, 17 June, 25 June and 26 August 2008, at: https://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/4june2008/report1/chapter6.pdf (accessed 10 November 2008), p. 59.

[23]      Attorney-General’s Department, National Interest Analysis, [2008] ATNIA 26, p. 1.

[24]      Attorney-General and Minister for the Status of Women, Media Release: Australia comes in from the cold on women’s rights, 24 November 2008, at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/RobertMc.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2008_FourthQuarter_24October2008-AustraliaComesInFromTheColdOnWomensRights (accessed 26 November 2008).

[25]      For details see http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport (accessed 26 August 2008).

[26]      Productivity Commission, Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children, Draft inquiry report, Canberra, September 2008 at: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport/draft (accessed 29 September 2008).

[27]      Mr Peter Arnaudo, Attorney-General’s Department, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 2.

[28]      Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, Communiqué, 25 July 2008 at: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/robertmc.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2008_ThirdQuarter_25July2008-Communique-StandingCommitteeofAttorneys-General (accessed 26 August 2008).

[29]      For further details see https://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ewr/payequity/index.htm (accessed 2 October 2008).

[30]      HREOC, Gender Equality: What Matters to Australian Women and Men. The Listening Tour Community Report, Sydney, July 2008 at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/sex_discrimination/listeningtour/ListeningTourCommunityReport.pdf (accessed 29 August 2008).

[31]      Equal Opportunity Act Review Project Team, An Equality Act for a Fairer Victoria: Equal Opportunity Review Final Report, Department of Justice (Vic), Melbourne, June 2008 at: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/resources/file/ebe62e407b4f289/Final%20Version%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf (accessed 1 September 2008).

[32]      HREOC, It's About Time: Women, men, work and family, Sydney, March 2007 at: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/sex_discrimination/its_about_time/index.html (accessed 29 August 2008).

[33]      United Nations, Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, United Nations, New York, 2006 at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/34sess.htm#documents (accessed 29 August 2008) pp 40-46.

[34]      For a comprehensive overview of the Act see chapter 4 of HREOC, Federal Discrimination Law, at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/legal/FDL/index.html (accessed 30 September 2008).

[35]      An example would be the imposition of a minimum height requirement for a job which, because women are on average shorter than men, is likely to disadvantage women.

[36]      HREOC, Federal Discrimination Law, p. 3.

[37]      Some provisions prohibiting discrimination are clearly within constitutional power in their own right, such as section 26 which prohibits discrimination in connection with the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs. These provisions are not limited to operation in the circumstances prescribed by subsections 9(4) to 9(20). The definitions of prescribed provisions in subsection 9(1) exclude the provisions which operate in this more expansive fashion. See also Attorney-General’s Department, Answers to question on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 2.

[38]      HREOC, Federal Discrimination Law, p. 2.

[39]      [1995] HCA 10.

[40]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 273.

[41]      ‘Amicus curiae’ literally means ‘a friend of the court’ and is one who calls the attention of the court to some point of law or fact which might otherwise be overlooked. See Roger Bird, Osborn’s Concise Law Dictionary, London, Sweet and Maxwell, 1983, p. 25.

[42]      Section 46PV of the HREOC Act.

[43]      See section 7 of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT); section 24 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW); section 19 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT); section 7 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991(QLD); section 29 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA); section 16 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (TAS); section 6 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (VIC); sections 8 to 10 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA).

[44]      Sections 6 and 8 of the EOWW Act.        

[45]      Sections 13 and 13A of the EOWW Act.

[46]      Definition of ‘relevant employer’ in section 3 of the EOWW Act.

[47]      Sections 8A and 10 of the EOWW Act.

 

Chapter 3 - Objects and definitions

[1]        Submission 8, p. 6. See also Professor Margaret Thornton, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 39; Collaborative submission from leading women’s organisations and women’s equality specialists, Submission 60, p. 13.

[2]        Submission 8, p. 7. See also Professor Margaret Thornton, Submission 22, p. 4; Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 3, pp 8-9.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 7.

[4]        Submission 69, p. 48.

[5]        Submission 69, pp 48-49.

[6]        Submission 69, p. 49.

[7]        Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, pp 6-7; Professor Margaret Thornton, Submission 22, pp 2 and 6; Community and Public Sector Union – State Public Services Federation, Submission 24, pp 2 and 3; Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 6; Dr Sara Charlesworth, Submission 39, p. 4.

[8]        Submission 8, p. 6. See also Ms Caroline Lambert, YWCA Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 58.

[9]        Submission 60, p. 14.

[10]      Submission 69, p. 47.

[11]      HREOC, Submission 69, pp 47-48. See also Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 7.

[12]      Submission 8, pp 3 and 6. See also Professor Margaret Thornton, Submission 22, p. 2.

[13]      Submission 12, p. 4.

[14]      Submission 52, pp 6-7.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 49.

[16]      Submission 22, p. 3.

[17]      Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 6; Independent Education Union of Australia, Submission 49, p. 3.

[18]      Submission 55, p. 7.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 9.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 9.

[21]      Submission 53, p. 4.

[22]      [2003] HCA 62.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 61.

[24]      Submission 60, p. 21.

[25]      [2003] HCA 62 at 222-232. For a summary of the case see Job Watch, Submission 62, pp 25-26.

[26]      Submission 62, pp 25-26.

[27]      Submission 12, p. 5. See also Professor Margaret Thornton, Submission 22, pp 2-3; HREOC, Submission 69, p.57.

[28]      Submission 62, p. 26. See also Dr Belinda Smith, ‘From Wardley to Purvis: How far has Australian anti-discrimination law come in 30 years?’, Australian Journal of Labour Law, Vol 21, 2008, pp 3-29 at pp 24-26.

[29]      Submission 62, p. 25.

[30]      Submission 53, p. 4; Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 9-10. See also Law Council, Submission 59, p. 15.

[31]      Submission 69, p. 72.

[32]      Submission 60, p. 13.

[33]      See for example Diversity Council Australia Inc, Submission 47, p. 5; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, pp 6-7.

[34]      Submission 63, pp 6-7. See also Dr Belinda Smith, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 68; Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Submission 32, pp 5 and 8.

[35]      Submission 60, p. 13.

[36]      [2003] FMCA 584.

[37]      [2006] HCA 14.

[38]      Submission 69, pp 73-74. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 13.

[39]      Submission 69, p. 73.

[40]      Submission 69, p. 74. 

[41]      Submission 69, p. 75.

[42]      Submission 59, p. 16.

[43]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 11-12.

[44]      Submission 60, p. 13. See also HREOC, Submission 69, pp 77-78.

[45]      Submission 69, pp 78-79. See also UNIFEM, Submission 19, supplementary submission, p. 4.

[46]      Dr Belinda Smith, Submission 12, p. 8; Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner (Tas) Submission 13, p. 3; Carers Australia Submission 33, p.6; NACLC Submission 52, p. 6; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 90.

[47]      Explanatory Memorandum Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008, pp 37-38. See also Mr Peter Arnaudo, Attorney-General’s Department, Committee Hansard, 23 September 2008, pp 56-57.

[48]      HREOC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 14.

[49]      Submission 13, p. 2.

 

Chapter 4 - Scope of the Act

[1]        Submission 20, p. 10. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 9; Law Council, Submission 59, p. 7.

[2]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 16-17. See also Submission 69, pp 110-112.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 17. See also Submission 69, pp 117-120; Mr Ian Scott, Job Watch, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 37.

[4]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 17. See also Submission 69, pp 113-116; Law Council, Submission 59, p. 16; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 27.

[5]        Submission 69, p. 124.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 18. See also Submission 69, pp 123-124.

[7]        Submission 20, pp 10 and 14-15. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 9.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 2. See also Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales and Australian Women Lawyers, Submission 29, p. 6; Queensland Council of Unions, Submission 46, p. 5.

[9]        Submission 69, p. 113.

[10]      Submission 69, p. 112.

[11]      Submission 69, pp 112-113. See also pp 142-143.

[12]      Submission 69, p. 87. See also Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 17-18.

[13]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.19.

[14]      Submission 69, p. 86. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 27-28.

[15]      Submission 59, pp 7-8.

[16]      House of Representatives Committee, Half Way to Equal, pp xlvi- xlvii and 260. Note this recommendation was not supported in the dissenting report of Opposition members of the committee, pp 275-276.

[17]      House of Representatives Committee, Half Way to Equal, pp xlvi and 260.

[18]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.1.

[19]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.16.

[20]      House of Representatives Committee, Half Way to Equal, pp xlvi- xlvii and 260. Note this recommendation was not supported in the dissenting report of Opposition members of the committee, pp 275-276.

[21]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, paras 3.19-3.21.

[22]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.21.

[23]      Australian Christian Lobby, Submission 71, pp 1-2; Family Voice Australia, Submission 73, p. 2. See also Endeavour Forum, Submission 36, p. 1.

[24]      [2000] FCA 1009. See also Re McBain [2002] HCA 16.

[25]      Similar provisions in South Australian legislation were held to be inoperative by the Full Court of the South Australian Supreme Court. See Equal Opportunity Commission and the Office of Women (SA), Submission 45, p. 4; Pearce v South Australian Health Commission [1996] SASC 5801.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 56.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 51.

[28]      Submission 71, p. 2. See also Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 51; Family Voice Australia, Submission 73, pp 2-5.

[29]      Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Inquiry into the Provisions of the Sex Discrimination Amendment Bill (No.1) 2000, February 2001, at https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999-02/sexdisreport/report/contents.htm (accessed 8 October 2008).

[30]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 51-52.

[31]      Submission 45, p. 4.

[32]      Submission 26, p. 3.

[33]      Submission 45,p. 2.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 13-14.

[35]      Submission 6, p. 6. See also Ms Annemarie Ashton, Carers Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 16.

[36]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 3. See also Ms Ashton, Carers Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 15-17; Dr Belinda Smith and Dr Joellen Riley, ‘Family-friendly Work Practices and the Law’, Sydney Law Review, Vol. 26 2004, pp 395-426.

[37]      Section 7A and subsection 14(3A) of the Act.

[38]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 16.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 16. See also Ms Shirley Southgate, NACLC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 33; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 29.

[40]      Submission 59, p. 24.

[41]      Submission 59, pp 24-25.

[42]      Submission 45,p. 2. See also Dads on the Air, Submission 6, pp 6-8; Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, pp 12-14, Business and Professional Women Australia, Submission 11, p. 3, Dr Belinda Smith, Submission 12, p. 8; Non-Custodial Parents Party, Submission 21, p. 4; New South Wales Premier, Submission 23, p. 1, South Australian Premier’s Council for Women, Submission 18, p. 2; Carers Australia, Submission 33, pp 12-13; NACLC, Submission 52, pp 10-11 and 17-18; Associate Professor Simon Rice, Submission 53, p. 6; ACTU, Submission 55, p. 7; YWCA, Submission 58, p. 9; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland Submission 63, pp 8-9; Families without Women, Submission 67, p. 34.

[43]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 102. See also Dr Belinda Smith, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 59; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 14.

[44]      Submission 13, p. 4. See also Associate Professor Simon Rice, Submission 53, p. 6.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 13-14.

[46]      Submission 29, pp 7-9. See also Carers Australia, Submission 33, p. 10; Independent Education Union of Australia, Submission 49, p. 5; NACLC, Submission 52, pp 17-18; ACTU, Submission 55, p. 8.

[47]      Submission 25, pp 19-20. For example, paragraph 659(2)(f) of the Workplace Relations Act prohibits termination of employment on the basis of an employee’s family responsibilities.

[48]      Submission 25, pp 20-21.

[49]      HREOC, Submission 69, pp 104-109. See also Community and Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation, Submission 24, p. 3; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, It's About Time: Women, men, work and family, Sydney, March 2007, pp 60-65.

[50]      Submission 69, p. 107.   

[51]      Submission 69, p. 108.

[52]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 14. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 15.

[53]      Submission 5, p. 3. See also Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, pp 8-9 and 14.

[54]      Submission 43, p. 2. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 18; Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Submission 72, p. 2.

[55]      Submission 43, p. 2.

[56]      HREOC, It's About Time: Women, men, work and family, Sydney, March 2007, recommendations 4 and 6, pp 59 and 64.

[57]      Submission 33, pp 5, 11-12 and 13-14. See also Associate Professor Simon Rice, Submission 53, p. 5; HREOC, Submission 69, p.103.

[58]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 14.

[59]      Submission 69, pp 103-104.

[60]      Submission 25, p. 21. See also Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, The National Employment Standards, at: http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/1955FD28-3178-44CD-9654-56A3D5391989/0/NationalDiscussionPaper_web.pdf (accessed 14 October 2008), pp 12 and 21-22.

[61]      Submission 25, p. 21.

[62]      Committee Hansard, September 2008, p. 21.

[63]      Submission 69, p. 105.

[64]      Submission 45, p. 4. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 20; Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Submission 72, pp 2-3; HREOC, Report of Inquiry into a Complaint of Discrimination in Employment and Occupation: Discrimination on the ground of sexual preference, HRC Report No. 6, 1998 available at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/pdf/human_rights/discrimination_sexual_pref.pdf (accessed 2 September 2008).

[65]      Answers to question on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 3.

[66]      Submission 51, p. 10.

[67]      Submission 51, pp 16-24. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 21.

[68]      Submission 80, p. 3.

[69]      Submission 1, pp 2-5.

[70]      Submission 1, p. 5.

[71]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 56.

[72]      Submission 46, p. 2.

[73]      Subsection 5(1A) of the Act.

[74]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 12. See also Submission 69, pp 89-90; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, p. 9.

[75]      Submission 52, pp 19-20. See also Ms Caroline Lambert, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 58.

[76]      Submission 15, p. 8. See also Law Council, Submission 59, p.30; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, pp 11-12.

[77]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 32.

[78]      Submission 50, p. 2. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 15.

[79]      Submission 59, p. 30.

[80]      Submission 63, pp 11-12. See ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.9.

[81]      That is the Act, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004.

[82]      Submission 59, pp 30-31.

[83]      Submission 20, pp 5 and 26-27.

[84]      Submission 29, pp 5-6 and 17. See also Ms Shirley Southgate, NACLC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 32; Women’s Legal Services Australia, Submission 44, p. 2; ACTU, Submission 55, p. 11.

[85]      Submission 52, p. 39. See also Ms Caroline Lambert, YWCA Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 59.

[86]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 53. See also Mr Ian Scott, JobWatch, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 43.

[87]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 44. See also Miss Elnaz Nikibin, UNIFEM Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p.42.

[88]      Submission 69, pp 259-260; ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Women’s Equality, ALRC 69 Part II, recommendations 4.1 to 4.8.           

[89]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Women’s Equality, ALRC 69 Part II, para 4.46.

[90]      Submission 69, pp 259-267.

[91]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 3. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 37-39; Submission 69, p. 260.

[92]      Submission 69, pp 8-13.

[93]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 3.

[94]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 51. See also Ms Shirley Southgate, NACLC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 30; Ms Rosalind Strong and Miss Elnaz Nikibin, UNIFEM Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 41-42; Dr Marie Joyce, Ordination of Catholic Women, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 29.

[95]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 59.

 

Chapter 5 - Effectiveness of the Act

[1]        The committee notes however that one submission suggested that gender equality may have reached an acceptable level already: Dr Stan Jeffrey KSJ, Submission 4, p. 1. While two submissions expressed opposition to CEDAW: Endeavour Forum, Submission 36, p. 1; Mr Ross Mitchell, Submission 81, p. 2.

[2]        HREOC, Submission 69, p. 36; ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.29; Ontario Human Rights Commission, Racism and Racial Discrimination - Systemic Discrimination, Fact Sheet, at http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/factsheets/systemic (accessed 28 October 2008). HREOC gave examples of systemic sex discrimination including the gap between women and men’s earnings due to the lack of value ascribed to what is commonly characterised as ‘women’s work’.

[3]        Submission 69, pp 219-220. See also Emily’s List, Submission 61, p. 2.

[4]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 2. See also Submission 69, p. 35.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 38-39.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 23.

[7]        Submission 16, p. 2. See also Independent Education Union of Australia, Submission 49, p. 2.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 11.

[9]        Submission 17, p. 1. See also Diversity Council Australia Inc, Submission 47, p. 4.

[10]      Submission 55, p. 2.

[11]      Submission 17, p. 1.

[12]      Submission 55, p. 2.

[13]      Dr Belinda Smith, ‘A Regulatory Analysis of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): Can it effect equality or only redress harm?’ in C Arup, et al (eds), Labour Law and Labour Market Regulation - Essays on the Construction, Constitution and Regulation of Labour Markets and Work Relationships, Federation Press, Sydney, 2006, p. 116.

[14]      Associate Professor Beth Gaze, ‘The Sex Discrimination Act After Twenty Years: Achievements, Disillusionment and Alternatives’, UNSW Law Journal, vol 27(3), 2004, pp 914-921 at p. 921. See also Australian Women Lawyers, Submission 29, p. 3.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 30-31.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 31.

[17]      Submission 69, p. 46.

[18]      Submission 29, pp 3-4.

[19]      Submission 30, p. 7. See also Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 2.

[20]      Submission 20, pp 7-8. See also HREOC, Submission 69, p. 8.

[21]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 5.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 5. See also ACCI, Submission 25, p. 33.

[23]      United Nations, Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, United Nations, New York, 2006 at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/34sess.htm#documents (accessed 29 August 2008) pp 40-46.

[24]      Submission 39, p. 5. See also NACLC, Submission 52, p. 9; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 10; Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans, Submission 78, p. 2.

[25]      Submission 69, p. 187. See also Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 12.

[26]      Submission 69, p. 191.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 41. See also paragraph 6.17.

[28]      Mr Ian Scott, Job Watch, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 44.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 35. See also Hawkesbury Nepean Community Legal Centre, Submission 77, p. 2.

[30]      Submission 62, pp 6 and 8. 

[31]      Submission 56, p. 2. See also Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, Submission 42, p. 6.

[32]      Submission 56, p. 2.

[33]      Submission 11, p. 2.

[34]      Submission 69, p. 30. See also Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 3; Queensland Council of Unions, Submission 46, p. 7.

[35]      House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations Hansard, 18 September 2008, p. 1.

[36]      Submission 59, p.21. See also Ms Penny Thew, Law Council, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 60.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 62.

[38]      Submission 5, p. 2. See also Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia, Submission 48, p. 6; HREOC, Submission 69, pp 31-32.

[39]      Submission 5, p. 2.

[40]      Submission 19, pp 3-4. See also Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 40.

[41]      Submission 48, pp 3-6.

[42]      Submission 48, p. 3.

[43]      Submission 59, pp 19-22.

[44]      Submission 59, p. 20.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 59.

[46]      Submission, 19, pp 2-3.

[47]      Submission 69, p. 33.

[48]      Submission, 19, p. 3.

[49]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 39-40.

[50]      Submission 5, pp 3-4.

[51]      Submission 58, p. 8.

[52]      Productivity Commission, Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children, Draft inquiry report, Canberra, September 2008 at: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport/draft (accessed 20 October 2008), p. 2.1.

[53]      Productivity Commission, p. 2.1

[54]      Submission 69, p. 31.

[55]      Submission 11, p. 3. See also Professor Marian Sawer, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 41.

[56]      Submission 19, p. 6.

[57]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 40. See also p. 44.

[58]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 18.

[59]      Submission 69, p. 35. See also p. 191.

[60]      Submission 26, pp 3-4.

[61]      Submission 31, p. 3. See also pp 11-14; HREOC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 4; Women’s Forum Australia, Submission 64, pp 12-13.

[62]      Submission 69, p. 132.

[63]      Submission 69, pp 132-133.

[64]      Submission 48, p. 7.

[65]      Submission 55, p. 11. See also PILCH, Submission 31, supplementary submission, p. 1; Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, Submission 42, p. 6; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 133.

[66]      Submission 60, p. 33. See also Emily’s List, Submission 61, pp 2-3.

[67]      Submission 52, p. 19. See also PILCH, Submission 31, supplementary submission, p. 2; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 132.

[68]      See also HREOC, Submission 69, p. 132.

[69]      Submission 45, p. 3. See also Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Submission 32, p. 7.

[70]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p.18.

[71]      Submission 69, p. 139.

[72]      Submission 69, p. 140.

[73]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p.19. See also Submission 69, pp 140-141.

[74]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p.19. See also Submission 69, pp 141-142.

[75]      Submission 75, p. 2.

[76]      Submission 59, pp 27-28.

[77]      Submission 59, p. 29. See also HREOC, Submission 69, pp 142-143.

[78]      Submission 13, p. 4. See also Working Women’s Centres, Submission 56, p. 6.

[79]      Submission 22, p. 6.

[80]      Submission 22, p. 5. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 33-34.

[81]      Submission 56, p. 5.

[82]      Submission 56, p. 5.

[83]      Submission 59, pp 28-29; Submission 69, pp 137-138.

[84]      Submission 59, p. 29; Submission 69, pp137-138.

[85]      Submission 69, pp 137-138. See also Law Council, Submission 59, p. 29.

[86]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 26.

[87]      Submission 69, p. 34.

[88]      Submission 64, p. 3.

[89]      Submission 30, p. 3. See also Women’s Forum Australia, Submission 64, p. 1.

[90]      Submission 56, pp 6-7.

[91]      Mr Richard A Greenwood, Submission 3, p. 2; Dads on the Air, Submission 6; Lone Fathers Association Australia, Submission 54; Families without Women, Submission 67, pp 6 and 9.

[92]      Submission 54, p. 6.

[93]      Submission 6, p. 2. See also Mr Ross Mitchell, Submission 81, p. 2.

[94]      Dads on the Air, Submission 6; Non-Custodial Parents Party, Submission 21; Lone Fathers Association Australia Submission 54; Families without Women, Submission 67.

[95]      Submission 6, p. 2.

[96]      Submission 45, p. 3. See also Australian Women Lawyers, Submission 29, pp 4-5.

[97]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 3.

[98]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 8. See also Mr Peter Arnaudo, Attorney-General’s Department, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 9; Attorney-General’s Department, Answers to question on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 2.

[99]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 6.

[100]    Submission 6, p. 3. See also Non-Custodial Parents Party, Submission 21, pp 2-4; Adrian Smyth, Submission 28; Neville Edwards, Submission 34; Lone Fathers Association Australia Submission 54 pp 4-8; Helmut Roth, Submission 66; Families without Women, Submission 67.

[101]    Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 4.

[102]    Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 8. See also Ms Kate Eastman, Law Council, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 58.

 

Chapter 6 - Complaints process

[1]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 24.

[2]        Submission 46, p. 7. See also Public Interest Law Clearing House Submission 31, p. 3; ACTU Submission 55, pp 3 and 5.

[3]        Submission 8, pp 7-8.

[4]        Submission 12, pp 5-6, 9-10.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 60. See also Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 5; Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 19-21; NACLC, Submission 52, p. 24; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 17-18.

[6]        Submission 60, p. 17. See also Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 7.

[7]        Submission 69, p. 181.

[8]        Submission 69, pp 194-195.

[9]        Submission 69, p. 199.

[10]      Submission 69, p. 195.

[11]      Submission 69, p. 196.

[12]      Submission 48, pp 8-9. See also Ms Michelle Panayi, PILCH, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 32-33.

[13]      Submission 42, pp 2, 7 and 10. See also Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, p. 3; Independent Education Union of Australia, Submission 49, p. 6.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 73.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 73.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 45-46. See also Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 10.

[17]      Submission 8, pp 11-12.  See also PILCH, Submission 31, p. 17; NACLC, Submission 52, pp 12 and 26.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 41.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 37. See also pp 36 and 40; and Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Submission 32, p. 6, regarding the small proportion of complaints pursued through HREOC in Victoria.

[20]      Submission 26, pp 4-5. See also Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, pp 2-3; NACLC, Submission 52, p. 26.

[21]      Submission 30, p. 10. See also Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Submission 42, pp 7-8; Independent Education Union of Australia, Submission 49, pp 6-7; PILCH, Submission 31, pp 16-17.

[22]      Submission 31, p. 3. See also Submission 31, pp 11 and 15-16; NACLC, Submission 52, p. 19.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 26.

[24]      Submission 32, p. 5.

[25]      Submission 25, p. 11.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 8.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 24.

[29]      Submission 15, p. 7.

[30]      Submission 50, p. 2.

[31]      Submission 68, p. 2. See also National Legal Aid, Submission 76, p. 2; Guideline 4.1, Civil Law Guidelines, Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales for the provision of legal assistance services, March 2005, p. 91.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 43. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 24.

[33]      Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 12; National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 15, p. 7; Australian Education Union, Submission 17, pp 5-6; Legal Aid New South Wales, Submission 68, p. 2; National Legal Aid, Submission 76, p. 2.

[34]      Submission 76, p. 2.

[35]      Submission 69, p. 203. See also PILCH Submission 31, p. 34.

[36]      See for example, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Submission 42, p. 7; Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, p. 6; PILCH Submission 31, pp 5 and 34; NACLC Submission 52, p. 13.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 73.

[38]      Submission 40.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 29.

[40]      Submission 69, p. 207.

[41]      Submission 69, pp 206-207.

[42]      Submission 69, p. 209. See also Legal Aid New South Wales, Submission 68, p. 4.

[43]      Submission 31, pp 24-25. See also Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 50-51.

[44]      Submission 25, pp 15-16.

[45]      Subsection 46PO(2) of the HREOC Act.

[46]      Submission 69, p. 204. See also p. 195.

[47]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 22. See also Submission 69, p. 204.

[48]      Submission 60, p. 12. See also Mr Brook Hely, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 11; Ms Caroline Lambert, YWCA Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 62.

[49]      Submission 53, p. 4.

[50]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 11. See also Submission 69, pp 65-71.

[51]      See HREOC, Submission 69, p. 69.

[52]      Submission 69, p. 69.

[53]      Submission 53, p. 5. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 12-13.

[54]      HREOC, Federal Discrimination Law, at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/legal/FDL/index.html (accessed 27 October 2008), Chapter 7, Tables 2 and 3. See also Job Watch, Submission 62, pp 33-35; Diversity Council of Australia, Submission 47, pp 8-9.

[55]      Submission 32, p. 5.

[56]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 19.

[57]      Submission 60, p. 24.

[58]      Submission 52, p. 22.

[59]      Submission 52, p. 22. See also Job Watch, Submission 62, p. 27.

[60]      Submission 59, p. 23.

[61]      Submission 52, pp 22-23 and 29. See also PILCH, Submission 31, pp 3 and 17-19; Job Watch, Submission 62, p. 27; Mr Ian Scott, Job Watch, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 41.

[62]      Submission 59, pp 23-24.

[63]      Submission 8, p. 8.

[64]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 60.

[65]      Submission 60, p. 24.

[66]      Submission 60, p. 25. See also Dr Sara Charlesworth, Submission 39, p. 9.

[67]      Submission 22, p. 5.

[68]      Submission 12, p. 9.

[69]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 76.

[70]      Submission 52, p. 26.

[71]      Submission 52, pp 27 and 29.

[72]      Submission 52, p. 26.

[73]      Submission 19, p. 9. See also Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 46.

[74]      Submission 62, pp 24-25.

[75]      Submission 62, p. 24.

[76]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 40.

[77]      Submission 52, p. 24.

[78]      Submission 52, p. 24.

[79]      Submission 52, p. 24.

[80]      Submission 69, p. 322.

[81]      Submission 69, p. 320.

[82]      Submission 69, pp 322-323.

[83]      Submission 39, pp 7-8.

[84]      Submission 39, p. 8.

[85]      Submission 39, p. 8. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 25-26.

[86]      ACTU, Submission 55, pp 15-16. See similar proposals from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Submission 42, pp 9-10; and Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, pp 4-5.

[87]      Submission 55, pp 15-16.

[88]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 37. See also ACCI, Submission 25, p. 11.

[89]      Submission 69, p. 198.

[90]      Submission 69, p. 193.

[91]      Women’s Electoral Lobby Submission 8, p. 11. See also Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Submission 42, pp 4 and 11; Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, pp 6-7; ACTU Submission 55, p. 14; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, pp 26-27 and 28.

[92]      Submission 8, pp 10-11.

[93]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 43.

[94]      Submission 39, p. 6.

[95]      Submission 69, pp 324-325.

 

Chapter 7 - Exemptions

[1]        HREOC, Submission 69, pp 154-155.

[2]        Submission 52, p. 9. See also Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 35; Women’s Legal Services Australia, Submission 44, p. 2.

[3]        Submission 52, p. 32. See also Job Watch, Submission 62, p. 31; Women’s Legal Services Australia, Submission 44, p. 2.

[4]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 2. See also pp 4-6; Ms Shirley Southgate, NACLC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 34.

[5]        ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.12 and 3.73; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 163.

[6]        ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.68; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 156. See also Ms Schleiger, Human Rights Law Centre, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 4; Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 5.

[7]        Submission 69, pp 151 and 163-164.

[8]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 21. See also Submission 69, p. 163

[9]        Submission 69, pp 151 and 163-164.

[10]      Submission 53, p. 7.

[11]      Submission 53, p. 7. See also Ms Cassandra Goldie, HREOC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 25; Human Rights Law Centre, Answers to questions on notice, 19 September 2008, pp 2-3.

[12]      Ms Scheilger, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 5.

[13]      Answers to questions on notice, 19 September 2008, pp 3-9.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 5.

[15]      Submission 53, p. 7.

[16]      Submission 69, p. 162.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 54.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 54.

[19]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 162.

[20]      Submission 69, p. 165.

[21]      Submission 7, p. 1. See also Australian Women’s Health Network Submission 30, p. 11; NACLC, Submission 52, p. 32.

[22]      Submission 7, p. 3.

[23]      Submission 7, p. 3.

[24]      Submission 7, p. 3.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 30.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 32.

[27]      Submission 60, p. 35. See also Ms Caroline Lambert, YWCA Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 60.

[28]      Submission 19, p. 8.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 43.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 47.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 50.

[32]      Submission 65, p. 2.

[33]      Submission 65, p. 3.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 35.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 4-5. See also Ms Caroline Lambert, YWCA Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 60.

[36]      Submission 17, p. 8. See also Mr Angelo Gavrielatos, Australian Education Union , Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 65; YWCA, Submission 58, p. 6; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, p. 5.

[37]      Submission 17, p. 8.

[38]      Submission 60, p. 36. See also Mr Angelo Gavrielatos, Australian Education Union , Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 65.

[39]      Submission 49, p. 7; Submission 75, pp 6-7.

[40]      Submission 27, pp 3-6. See also Mr Colin Clifford, Jubilee Christian College, Submission 35; Mr Donald Leys, Condell Park Christian School, Submission 37; Mr Ronald Christie, Associate Pastor, Condell Park Bible Church, Submission 38.

[41]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 50.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 47-48. See also p. 55.

[43]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 48. See also p. 56.

[44]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 56. See also Association of Independent Schools of South Australia, Submission 75, p. 3.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 51.

[46]      Submission 13, p. 5. See also Ordination of Catholic Women, Submission 9, part 2 and UNIFEM Submission 19, p. 8.

[47]      Submission 9, part 2, p. 2.

[48]      Submission 9, part 2, p. 2.

[49]      Mr Mark Spencer, Christian Schools Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 53-54; Submission 27, pp 6-7. See also Mr Colin Clifford, Jubilee Christian College, Submission 35.

[50]      OV and anor v QZ and anor (No.2) [2008] NSWADT 115 at 119.

[51]      Mrs Rosalind Strong, UNIFEM Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 42.

[52]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 43.

[53]      Submission 49, p. 8.

[54]      Submission 49, p. 8.

[55]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.11.

[56]      Submission 74, p. 2.

[57]      Submission 74, p. 3.

[58]      Submission 74, p. 2.

[59]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 56. See also Endeavour Forum, Submission 36, p. 2.

[60]      See Jyonah Jericho, Submission 2; Non-Custodial Parents Party, Submission 21, p. 5; Dads on the Air, Submission 6, pp 8-9.

[61]      Submission 2, p. 1.

[62]      Submission 2, p. 3.

[63]      Submission 2, pp 7-8.

[64]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.13.

[65]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 174.

[66]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 174.

[67]      Submission 63, p. 3. See also Anti-Discrimination Commissioner of Tasmania, Submission 13, pp 5-6; Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 40-41; NACLC, Submission 52, p. 36.

[68]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 43. See also p. 45.

[69]      Submission 20, p. 42.

[70]      Submission 52, p. 33.

[71]      Submission 52, pp 35-36.

[72]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 36.

[73]      Anti-Discrimination Commissioner of Tasmania, Submission 13, pp 5-6; Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 5-6; Associate Professor Beth Gaze, Submission 50, p. 5; Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, Submission 63, pp 4-6.

[74]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 21. See also Ms Shirley Southgate, NACLC, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 34.

[75]      Submission 69, p. 158.

[76]      Submission 69, p. 159. See also Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, p. 30.

[77]      Submission 52, p. 38.

[78]      Submission 22, p. 7. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 36.

[79]      Submission 69, p. 156.

[80]      Submission 69, p. 157.

 

Chapter 8 - Impact on the economy

[1]        Submission 25, p. 3.

[2]        Submission 25, p. 3.

[3]        Submission 25, p. 2.

[4]        Submission 25, p. 3.

[5]        Submission 29, p. 16. See also Carers Australia Submission 33, pp 7-8 and 12; Diversity Council Australia Inc Submission 47, pp 7-11.

[6]        Submission 47, pp 10-11. See also Carers Australia, Submission 33, pp 7-8; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 32.

[7]        Submission 47, p. 10.

[8]        Submission 47, p. 8. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 31.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 59.

[10]      Submission 69, pp 131-132.

[11]      Submission 69, p. 132.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 30.

[13]      Submission 47, p. 9.

[14]      Submission 69, p. 251.

[15]      Submission 69, p. 252. See also ACTU, Submission 55, p. 3. On the related issue of workforce participation of carers see Carers Australia, Submission 33, pp 7-8 and 14-15.

[16]      Submission 48, p. 8. See also HREOC Submission 69, p. 252.

[17]      Submission 32, p. 5. See also ACCI, Submission 25, pp 3 and 7.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 11. See also Submission 25, pp 12-13.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 12.

[20]      Submission 25, pp 13-14 and 27-28.

[21]      Submission 25, p. 26.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 15. See also p. 16.

[24]      Attorney-General’s Department, Answers to questions on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 4.

[25]      Attorney-General’s Department, Answers to questions on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 4.

[26]      Submission 69, pp 256-257. See also Mr Peter Arnaudo, Attorney-General’s Department, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 10.

[27]      National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 15, p. 8; Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, Submission 42, p. 4; ACTU, Submission 55, p. 16; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 258.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 53

[29]      Submission 13, pp 2-3. See also Queensland Council of Unions Submission 46, p. 1; Office of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner and the Office of Women (SA), Submission 45, p. 4.

[30]      Submission 23, p. 2.

[31]      Submission 23, p. 2.

[32]      Submission 25, pp 3-4.

[33]      Submission 25, p. 7.

[34]      Attorney-General’s Department, Answers to questions on notice, 22 October 2008, p. 2.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 3.

[36]      Submission 25, pp 5-6.

 

Chapter 9 - Preventing discrimination

[1]        Submission 57, pp 2-5. See also Women’s Health Victoria, Submission 14; Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 9.

[2]        Submission 57, p. 3.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 61.

[4]        Submission 14, p. 2. See also section 84 of the Equality Act 2006 (UK); section 76A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (UK).

[5]        Submission 14, p. 3. See also HREOC, Submission 69, pp 246-247; section 85 of the Equality Act 2006 (UK) and sections 76B and 76D of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (UK); Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Overview of the Gender Equality Duty, at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publicationsandresources/Gender/Pages/Publicsector.aspx (accessed 1 November 2008).

[6]        Submission 14, p. 2. See also Emily’s List, Submission 61, p. 2.

[7]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 61.

[8]        Submission 39, p. 10.

[9]        Submission 39, p. 10.

[10]      Submission 39, p. 11.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 73-74. See also Submission 55, pp 5-6; Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, Submission 42, p. 8.

[12]      Submission 69, pp 79-82. See also pp 143-145.

[13]      Submission 69, p. 80.

[14]      Submission 69, p. 82.

[15]      Submission 69, pp 247-248. See also sections 59 to 65 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

[16]      Submission 69, p. 247.

[17]      Submission 69, pp 248-249.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 15.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 16 and 17.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 20. See also pp 16 and 17.

[21]      Submission 65, p. 3.

[22]      Paragraphs 48(1)(d) and (e) of the Act. See also paragraphs 11(1)(g) and (h) of the HREOC Act.

[23]      Submission 69, pp 202 and 220.

[24]      Paragraphs 10(1)(e) and (f) of the EOWW Act.

[25]      Submission 79, p. 8.

[26]      Submission 51, pp 1-3. See also NACLC Submission 52, pp 30-31.

[27]      Submission 51, p. 8.

[28]      Submission 51, pp 7-9.

[29]      Submission 17, p. 8. See also Mr Angelo Gavrielatos, Australian Education Union, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 61.

[30]      Submission 17, p. 8. See also Ms Catherine Davis, Australian Education Union, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 64.

[31]      Submission 29, p. 15.

[32]      Submission 29, p. 15.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 39-40.

[34]      Submission 26, p. 2. See also Diversity Council Australia Inc, Submission 47, p. 6; National Legal Aid, Submission 76, p. 2..

[35]      Submission 32, pp 8-9. See also ACCI, Submission 25, pp 17 and 24.

[36]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 18.

[37]      Submission 41, p. 5.

[38]      Submission 33, pp 7-8.

[39]      Submission 33, p. 9. See also Ms Ashton, Carers Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 24.

[40]      Submission 39, p. 12.

[41]      Submission 39, p. 12. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 23.

[42]      Submission 50, p. 3.

[43]      Submission 69, p. 250.

 

Chapter 10 - Powers and resources

[1]        Submission 55, p. 11.

[2]        Submission 55, pp 12 and 17. See also Ms Bowtell, ACTU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 71.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 71-72.

[4]        Dr Belinda Smith, ‘A Regulatory Analysis of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): Can it effect equality or only redress harm?’, 2006, p. 112.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 50.

[6]        Ronnit Redman, ‘Litigating for Gender Equality: The Amicus Role of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’, UNSW Law Journal, vol 27(3), 2004, pp 849-857 at p. 855.

[7]        Submission 69, p. 222. See also definitions of ‘act’, ‘practice’, ‘enactment’ and ‘Territory’ in subsection 3(1) of the HREOC Act.

[8]        Subsection 30(1) of the HREOC Act; HREOC, Submission 69, p. 222.

[9]        Subsection 33(c) of the HREOC Act; HREOC, Submission 69, pp 222-223.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 23.

[11]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 224.

[12]      Ms Penny Thew, Law Council, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 49; Submission 59, p. 12. See also Mr Angelo Gavrielatos, Australian Education Union, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 61; Australian Education Union, Submission 17, pp 4-5.

[13]      Submission 59, p. 12. See also ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.5.

[14]      Submission 22, pp 3-4. See also, Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 7-8.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 31.

[16]      Submission 69, p. 225.

[17]      Submission 69, p. 225.

[18]      Dr Belinda Smith, ‘A Regulatory Analysis of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): Can it effect equality or only redress harm?, 2006, p. 111. See also ACTU, Submission 55, p. 10.

[19]      Submission 12, pp 8-9. See also National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 15, pp 6-7.

[20]      Submission 26, p. 5

[21]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 71.

[22]      Submission 55, p. 12.

[23]      Submission 20, pp 6, 22 and 60.

[24]      Submission 20, p. 60.

[25]      Submission 31, pp 4-5, 29-31.

[26]      Submission 31, pp 5, 22 and 32. NACLC, Submission 52, makes a similar proposal at pp 24-25.

[27]      See paragraph 2.43.

[28]      Submission 69, pp 225-229.

[29]      Submission 69, p. 226. See also Mr John von Doussa, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 23.

[30]      Submission 69, p. 226.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 19.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 22.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 19.

[34]      Submission 50, p. 2.

[35]      Submission 69, pp 231 and 233.

[36]      Submission 69, p. 232. HREOC also has broad intervention powers under paragraph 11(1)(o) of the HREOC Act.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 24.

[38]      Submission 69, p. 235.

[39]      Submission 8, p. 7. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 17.

[40]      Submission 55, p. 10.

[41]      Submission 69, p. 240.

[42]      Submission 69, p. 241.

[43]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.4. See also Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland Submission 63, p. 9.

[44]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, para 3.45.

[45]      ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.4.

[46]      Submission 12, pp 8-9. See also Australian Education Union, Submission 17, p. 5; Human Rights Law Centre, Submission 20, pp 6 and 23; Anti-Discrimination Commission (QLD) Submission 63, pp 9-10.

[47]      Submission 31, p. 34.

[48]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 52.

[49]      Submission 69, p. 244.

[50]      Submission 69, p. 243.

[51]      Submission 69, p. 244.

[52]      Submission 69, p. 245.

[53]      Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, p. 9; Australian Baha’i Community, Submission 16, p. 3; National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 15, pp 3 and 7; Australian Education Union, Submission 17, p. 4; Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 8; Dr Sara Charlesworth, Submission 39, p. 6; NACLC Submission 52, p. 16.

[54]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 63.

[55]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 36.

[56]      Submission 15, pp 2-3 and 8

[57]      Mr Gavrielatos, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 61; Submission 17, pp 3-4. See also Dr Sara Charlesworth, Submission 39, regarding the need for better data collection to monitor women’s disadvantage and progress towards gender equality at pp 5-6.

[58]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 24.

[59]      Sections 6 and 8 of the EOWW Act.        

[60]      Sections 13 and 13A of the EOWW Act.

[61]      Submission 55, p. 10.

[62]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 75.

[63]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 44.

[64]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 62. See also Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 18.

[65]      Submission 79, p. 13.

[66]      Submission 15, pp 5-7.

[67]      Submission 24, p. 3. See also Australian Women Lawyers Submission 29, pp 12-13.

[68]      Submission 15, pp 5-6.

[69]      Submission 79, pp 17-18.

[70]      See for example Legal Aid Queensland, Submission 26, pp 1-2 and 4; Dr Sara Charlesworth, Submission 39, pp 12-13; Queensland Council of Unions, Submission 46, p. 6.

[71]      Submission 69, p. 217. See also Professor Sawyer, Women’s Electoral Lobby, Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 37.

[72]      Submission 69, p. 182. See also pp 202 and 220.

[73]      Legal Aid Queensland, Submission 26, p. 4; Queensland Council of Unions, Submission 46, p. 6.

[74]      Submission 26, p. 1.

[75]      Submission 26, p. 4.

[76]      Submission 47, p. 6.

[77]      Women’s Electoral Lobby, Submission 8, pp 8-10; National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 15, pp 3 and 10; Australian Women’s Health Network, Submission 30, p. 8.

[78]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 37.

 

Chapter 11 - Summary of the views of Committee members

[1]        Dr Belinda Smith, ‘A Regulatory Analysis of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): Can it effect equality or only redress harm?’ in C Arup, et al (eds), Labour Law and Labour Market Regulation - Essays on the Construction, Constitution and Regulation of Labour Markets and Work Relationships, Federation Press, Sydney, 2006, p. 116.

[2]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 4.

[3]        See for example Women Lawyers Association of NSW and Australian Women Lawyers, Submission 29, p. 3; Collaborative submission, Submission 60, p. 1; Muslim Women’s National Network of Australia, Submission 65, p. 3.

[4]        ILO Convention 100, ILO Convention 111 and ILO Convention 156.

[5]        Sex Discrimination Amendment Bill (No.1) 2000.

[6]        See section 28B and subsection 106(2) of the Act.

[7]        ALRC, Equality Before the Law: Justice for Women, ALRC 69 Part I, recommendation 3.9.

[8]        This would particularly be the case if the committee’s recommendation that a general prohibition on discrimination is implemented.

[9]        Section 31 clarifies that it is not discriminatory to provide women with rights or privileges in connection with pregnancy or childbirth. Section 32 provides that the prohibitions on discrimination do not apply to services which by their nature can only be provided to one sex.

 

Dissenting report by Liberal Senators

[1]        Submission 47, p. 3.

[2]        United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2007-2008, at http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_20072008_GDI.pdf (accessed 2 December 2008), p. 326.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 20.

[4]        CEDAW, ICCPR, ICESCR and ILO Conventions 100, 111 and 156.

[5]        Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, National Report on Schooling in Australia 2006: Preliminary Paper - 2006 National Benchmark Results for Reading, Writing and Numeracy, Years 3, 5 and 7 at: http://www.mceetya.edu.au/verve/_resources/Benchmarks_2006_Years35and7-Final.pdf (accessed 3 December 2008), pp 12, 23 and 34; House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training, Boys: getting it right - Report on the inquiry into the education of boys, at https://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/edt/Eofb/report/fullrpt.pdf (accessed 3 December 2008), October 2002.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, pp 52-53.

[7]        Family Voice Australia, Submission 73, pp 5-6. See also Sex Discrimination Amendment (Teaching Profession) Bill 2004: Explanatory Memorandum, at https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/sexdisc_04/info/em.pdf (accessed 3 December 2008), p. 2.

[8]        [2000] FCA 1009. See also Re McBain [2002] HCA 16.

[9]        Submission 71, p. 2. See also Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 51; Family Voice Australia, Submission 73, pp 2-5.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 11 September 2008, p. 55.

[11]      VACC, Submission 32, p. 5; ACCI, Submission 25, pp 3 and 7.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 11. See also Submission 25, pp 12-13.

[13]      Submission 25, p. 35.

[14]      Mr Scott Barklamb, ACCI, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14; ACCI, Submission 25, p. 11; VACC, Submission 32, p. 5.

[15]      Volunteering Australia, The current picture of volunteering in Australia: International Year of the Volunteers Follow-up Report to the UN General Assembly, at http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/files/0564UX9WRW/2008_UN_Report_Final.pdf (accessed 3 December 2008), June 2008, p. 2; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Voluntary Work Australia 2006, Cat No 4441.0 at: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/C52862862C082577CA25731000198615/$File/44410_2006.pdf (accessed 3 December 2008), July 2007.

[16]      Section 25 of the Act.

[17]      Such a provision would permit discriminatory conduct within reasonable limits.

[18]      Mr Daniel Mammone, ACCI, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 11.

[20]      HREOC, Submission 69, pp 244-245.

[21]      HREOC, Submission 69, p. 243.

[22]      Submission 25, p. 3.

[23]      Mr Daniel Mammone, ACCI, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 15.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 20. See also pp 16 and 17.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 12.

[26]      Submission 25, pp 13-14 and 27-28.

[27]      Submission 25, p. 26.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 15. See also p. 16.

[30]      Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Report 95: Treaties Tabled on 4 June, 17 June, 25 June and 26 August 2008, at: https://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/4june2008/report1.htm (accessed 3 December 2008), pp 85-88

[31]      Attorney-General and Minister for the Status of Women, Media Release: Australia comes in from the cold on women’s rights, 24 November 2008, at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/RobertMc.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2008_F ourthQuarter_24October2008-AustraliaComesInFromTheColdOnWomensRights (accessed 26 November 2008).

[32]      Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, p. 87.

 

Additional comments by Senator Hanson-Young - Australian Greens

[1] United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm