DOCSLIB.ORG

Submission of the HUMAN RIGHTS and EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Submission of the HUMAN RIGHTS and EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Submission of the HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (HREOC) to the SENATE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE on the INQUIRY INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1984 (Cth) IN ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION AND PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY 1 September 2008 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Level 8, 133 Castlereagh St GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 Ph. (02) 9284 9600 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................... 6 2. Executive summary .............................................................................. 8 Stage one .................................................................................................................. 9 Stage two .................................................................................................................11 3. Table of Recommendations and Options for Reform ....................... 14 4. Gender equality in Australia: the state of the nation ....................... 29 Economic independence for women .........................................................................30 Work and family balance across the life cycle ..........................................................32 Freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence ...........................................34 Overall findings of the Listening Tour .....................................................................35 National Plan of Action towards Gender Equality ....................................................36 Improving laws to address sex discrimination and promote gender equality: a national priority ....................................................................................................................37 5. The SDA and how it works: an overview .......................................... 40 6. A two-staged process of reform ......................................................... 43 7. Objects and interpretation ................................................................. 46 Objects of the SDA ..................................................................................................47 Interpretation of the SDA .........................................................................................48 Reservations to CEDAW .........................................................................................49 8. Definitions of discrimination .............................................................. 51 Direct discrimination ...............................................................................................51 Indirect discrimination .............................................................................................71 Positive duty to eliminate discrimination and promote gender equality ....................79 Additional issues regarding the definition of discrimination .....................................83 Equality before the law ............................................................................................84 9. Grounds of discrimination ................................................................. 88 Breastfeeding ...........................................................................................................89 Marital status ...........................................................................................................90 2 Sexuality, Sex Identity and Gender Identity .............................................................91 10. Family responsibilities ...................................................................... 93 HREOC’s It’s About Time (2007) findings ..............................................................98 Extending protection from discrimination under the SDA ...................................... 102 Positive duty to reasonably accommodate family and carer responsibilities ........... 104 11. Coverage of the SDA ...................................................................... 110 A free-standing prohibition .................................................................................... 111 States and State Instrumentalities ........................................................................... 113 Men ....................................................................................................................... 116 Volunteers and unpaid workers .............................................................................. 117 Independent contractors ......................................................................................... 119 Areas of public life in which discrimination is unlawful......................................... 120 Partnerships ........................................................................................................... 123 Statutory appointees, judges, members of parliament ............................................. 124 Other potentially excluded categories of workers ................................................... 125 Discrimination in other areas of public life ............................................................ 126 Administration of Commonwealth laws and programs ........................................... 127 Specific issues re coverage of sexual harassment provisions .................................. 129 Ancillary / accessory liability ................................................................................. 129 12. Sexual Harassment ......................................................................... 131 Importance of eliminating sexual harassment ......................................................... 131 Definition of sexual harassment ............................................................................. 134 Extend the coverage of protection .......................................................................... 138 Positive duty to prevent sexual harassment ............................................................ 143 13. Victimisation ................................................................................... 146 Concerns over the victimisation provisions ............................................................ 147 14. Exemptions...................................................................................... 151 The permanent and temporary exemptions and ‘special measures’ under the SDA . 151 Permanent Exemptions which allow differential treatment consistent with substantive gender equality ...................................................................................................... 157 Permanent exemptions that may be contrary to substantive gender equality but are sought to be justified by competing public policy consideration/s .......................... 160 Religious exemptions (s 37 and 38) ....................................................................... 165 3 Voluntary Bodies (s 39) ......................................................................................... 174 Sport (s 42) ............................................................................................................ 176 13. Complaint Handling ....................................................................... 180 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 180 Overview of the Complaint Process ....................................................................... 182 Complaint Handling Statistics ................................................................................ 187 The efficiency and effectiveness of the complaint handling service ........................ 197 Standing to bring complaints ................................................................................. 204 14. Powers and Capacity of HREOC and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner ....................................................................................... 210 Existing functions and powers of HREOC and the Commissioner.......................... 211 Existing Capacity of HREOC and the Commissioner ............................................. 216 Strengthening the functions, powers and capacity to address systemic discrimination and promote gender equality .................................................................................. 219 Policy Development, Education, Research, Submissions and Public Awareness .... 220 Initiating Inquiries ................................................................................................. 220 Self-Initiated investigations ................................................................................... 225 Certification of Special Measures .......................................................................... 229 Amicus curiae and intervention functions .............................................................. 231 Independent Monitoring and Reporting of National Gender Equality Benchmarks and Indicators ............................................................................................................... 236 Standards, Codes of Practice and Guidelines .......................................................... 240 Positive Duties and Action Plans ........................................................................... 245 Procurement Standards .......................................................................................... 249 15. Impact on the economy, productivity and employment ............... 251 16. Harmonisation of discrimination and equality laws ....................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Issue No. 06/2008 Bulletin
    m CITY OF Armadale INFORMATION BULLETIN 06/2008 10JIPIII2000 hi •* CITY OF Armadale Information Bulletin Issue No. 06/2008 Inside this Issue Correspondence & WA Local Government Association (WALGA) News Papers Issue No.l 1.08-24 March 2008 COR-1 Issue No.12.08 - 31 March 2008 COR-3 Pink Divider Issue No.13.08 - 7 April 2008 COR-5 Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) News 28 March 2008 COR-7 Correspondence Media Release - Risk to local participation on environment - 28 March 2008 COR-23 Media Release - Local Government Voice at 2020 Summit - 31 March 2008 COR-24 Letter thanking Mayor & Councillors for Opening - Heron Park Private Estate - 2 April COR-25 Circular No 2/08 - Bilateral Agreement on Indigenous Affairs COR-26 Information from Employee Movements HR-1 Human Resources Blue Divider Inforniation to Standing Committees City Strategy • Progress Report Progress Report on Contingency, Operational & Strategic Projects CS-1 Lilac Divider • Outstanding Matters & Information Items Report on Outstanding Matters - City Strategy Committee CS-9 • Donations/Grants/Contributions Report on Donations/Community Grants/Annual Contributions CS-13 Development • Outstanding Matters & Information Items Report on Outstanding Matters - Development Services Committee D-l Services Results of the Streamcare Program 2007 & Direction for 2008 D-3 Yellow Divider • Health Health Services Manager's Report for the month of February 2008 D-8 • Planning Planning Services Manager's Report for the month of February 2008 D-l 5 Town Planning Scheme No.4 - Amendment
    [Show full text]
  • What Has Federalism Ever Done for Us?1
    3. What has federalism ever done for us?1 The Hon Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland In April 2008, our new Prime Minister gathered together 1000 of our country's best and brightest to imagine the Australia we could be in 2020. As I left Canberra on that cold Sunday afternoon, I was both inspired and alarmed. Inspired by the wealth of ideas and the many new voices that had been unearthed by the process and alarmed that the most recurring theme and, without doubt, the most popular idea was the abolition of the states. Here were some of the country's brightest, most educated, most experienced and publicly engaged thinkers cheering rapturously at a throwaway line from Tim Fischer about getting rid of the states. It gave me real pause for thought. A century ago, as the fathers of the federation shaped the constitution, the preservation and protection of the states were pivotal to their deliberations, and yet today there seems to be a headlong, popular rush to abandon them. I was struck by how comprehensively John Howard had demonised the states, but I was also acutely aware that this alone could not explain the phenomenon. At the very least, the summiteers' reaction articulated a real sense of disappointment and frustration with many key areas of social service provision. States ignore this at their peril. So, a century on from federation, against a backdrop of an emerging cooperative federalism and fresh from a meeting of COAG, I thought it would be useful here to reflect on federalism as a form of government and contemplate the future of our own federation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rudd Government Australian Commonwealth Administration 2007–2010
    The Rudd Government Australian Commonwealth Administration 2007–2010 The Rudd Government Australian Commonwealth Administration 2007–2010 Edited by Chris Aulich and Mark Evans Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/rudd_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: The Rudd government : Australian Commonwealth administration 2007 - 2010 / edited by Chris Aulich and Mark Evans. ISBN: 9781921862069 (pbk.) 9781921862076 (eBook) Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Rudd, Kevin, 1957---Political and social views. Australian Labor Party. Public administration--Australia. Australia--Politics and government--2001- Other Authors/Contributors: Aulich, Chris, 1947- Evans, Mark Dr. Dewey Number: 324.29407 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design by ANU E Press Illustrations by David Pope, The Canberra Times Printed by Griffin Press Funding for this monograph series has been provided by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Research Program. This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Contents Acknowledgments . vii Contributors . ix Part I. Introduction 1 . It was the best of times; it was the worst of times . 3 Chris Aulich 2 . Issues and agendas for the term . 17 John Wanna Part II. The Institutions of Government 3 . The Australian Public Service: new agendas and reform . 35 John Halligan 4 . Continuity and change in the outer public sector .
    [Show full text]
  • Author Details. Correspondence: Institutional Affiliation: World Wide
    Author details. Name: Helen Jane Farrell, PhD. Mailing address: (not for publication) Telephone: (not for publication) Correspondence: Institutional Affiliation: Music, Mind and Wellbeing (MMW), The University of Melbourne. Australia. World Wide Web: <http://www.cmmw.unimelb.edu.au>. Conflict of Interest Statement. The author declares that submission was generated in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflict of interest. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE. Primary Teacher Secondary Teacher School leader Academic Arts Educator Parent School student Tertiary student Employer Other (please specify) Helen J. Farrell. Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Inclusion: Engaging in a Creative Victoria. 2 Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Inclusion: Engaging in a Creative Victoria. There is an extraordinary evidence base to support music education in schools. On the weekend of 19 and 20 April 2008, more than 1000 Australians responded to an invitation from the then Prime Minister, the Honorable Kevin Rudd MP and came to Parliament House in Canberra for the Australia 2020 Summit: Thinking Big with the purpose of discussing the agenda for the nation. The challenge was to help shape a long-term strategy for the nation’s future, to tackle the long-term challenges confronting Australia by thinking in new ways. Attendees came from diverse backgrounds - some eminent in specialised fields; others ‘ordinary’ Australians. The Summit covered a range of topics in 10 streams. Discussion was approached in different ways. The ambitions, themes and ideas that emerged reflected the backgrounds and passions of individual participants; the unique dynamics of each stream; and the varying challenges relating to each discussion area (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Collaborative Governance a New Era of Public Policy in Australia?
    Collaborative Governance A new era of public policy in Australia? Collaborative Governance A new era of public policy in Australia? Edited by Janine O’Flynn and John Wanna Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/collab_gov_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Collaborative governance : a new era of public policy in Australia? / editors, Janine O’Flynn ; John Wanna. ISBN: 9781921536403 (pbk.) 9781921536410 (pdf) Series: ANZSOG series. Subjects: Public administration--Australia. Australia--Politics and government. Other Authors/Contributors: O’Flynn, Janine. Wanna, John. Dewey Number: 351.94 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design by John Butcher Printed by University Printing Services, ANU Funding for this monograph series has been provided by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Research Program. This edition © 2008 ANU E Press John Wanna, Series Editor Professor John Wanna is the Sir John Bunting Chair of Public Administration at the Research School of Social Sciences at The Australian National University. He is the director of research for the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). He is also a joint appointment with the Department of Politics and Public Policy at Griffith University and a principal researcher with two research centres: the Governance and Public Policy Research Centre and the nationally- funded Key Centre in Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance at Griffith University.
    [Show full text]
  • Dancing with the Bear: the Politics of Australian National Cultural Policy
    Dancing with the bear: the politics of Australian national cultural policy A thesis submitted to fulfil requirements for a degree of Doctor of Social Science Deborah Mills Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of Sydney 2020 1 Statement of originality This is to certify that, to the best of my knowledge the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged. Deborah Mills 2 Table of Contents Table of Figures 8 Table of Appendices 10 Abstract 12 Acknowledgements 13 Preface 14 Chapter One: Introduction 16 “Art in a Cold Climate” 16 Introducing the case studies 18 The limits of my inquiry 18 Bringing two theoretical frames together 19 Thesis structure: key themes and chapter outlines 22 Chapter Two: theory and method 27 Part One: public policy theory 27 What is public policy? 27 The Advocacy Coalition Framework 28 Neo-liberalism, culture, and governance 30 Part Two: critical cultural studies 32 Cultural studies and cultural policy 34 Is it art or cultural policy? 38 Art as excellence: its genius and distinctiveness 40 Art as industry: challenging excellence/confirming culture’s 42 exchange value De-colonising culture: access and excellence as cultural self 44 determination Part Three: cultural citizenship and arts policy modes 46 Cultural citizenship 46 Arts policy modes 47 Part Four: research
    [Show full text]
  • Australian 2020 Summit Submission Form
    Submissions for the Australia 2020 Summit The Rudd Government will convene an Australia 2020 Summit at Parliament House on 19-20 April 2008 to help shape a long term strategy for the nation’s future. The Summit will bring together some of the best and brightest brains from across the country to tackle the long term challenges confronting Australia’s future. Every Australian has the opportunity to make a submission to the Summit in one of the ten critical areas of discussion: 1. Future directions for the Australian economy – including education, skills, training, science and innovation as part of the nation’s productivity agenda 2. Economic infrastructure, the digital economy and the future of our cities 3. Population, sustainability, climate change, and water 4. Future directions for rural industries and rural communities 5. A long-term national health strategy – including the challenges of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing population 6. Strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion 7. Options for the future of indigenous Australia 8. Towards a creative Australia: the future of the arts, film and design 9. The future of Australian governance: renewed democracy, a more open government (including the role of the media), the structure of the Federation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens 10. Australia’s future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world. Submissions Contributing a submission to the Australia 2020 Summit is a way for all Australians to be involved in bringing the best ideas forward to address Australia’s long term challenges. All submissions will be made publicly available on this website and will be presented to the Australia 2020 Summit participants to stimulate discussion and ideas about addressing our future challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the Twentieth Conference of the Samuel Griffith
    Upholding the Australian Constitution Volume Twenty Proceedings of the Twentieth Conference of Th e Samuel Griffi th Society Rydges North Sydney Hotel, North Sydney © Copyright 2008 by Th e Samuel Griffi th Society. All rights reserved. Table of Contents Foreword John Stone Dinner Address Hon Ian Callinan, AC Superior Courts in the Republic of Australia Introductory Remarks John Stone Chapter One Dr Nicholas Aroney Th e Idea of a Federal Commonwealth Chapter Two Professor James Allan Implied Rights and Federalism: Inventing Intentions while Ignoring Th em Chapter Th ree Paul Sheehan Th e Rule of Lawyers, not Law Chapter Four Peter Faris, QC Human Rights Legislation and Australian Sovereignty Chapter Five Senator the Hon George Brandis, SC A Collision Waiting to Happen? Th e United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and AustralianAustralian DomesticDomestic PolicyPolicy Chapter Six Alan Oxley “Global Warming” and its Discontents: Th e Th reat of Populism to Sovereignty and Prosperity i Chapter Seven Dr Matt Harvey Th e Treaty of Lisbon: A Federal Constitution that Dares not Speak its Name? Chapter Eight Professor David Flint, AM “Supreme Summit Smashes Creaky Constitution”: Pravda Chapter Nine Professor John McGinniss An Opinionated History of the Federalist Society Chapter Ten Dr Anne Twomey Commonwealth Coercion and Co-operation Chapter Eleven Professor Kenneth Wiltshire Chariot Wheels Federalism Concluding Remarks Sir David Smith, KCVO, AO Appendix I Australia Day Messages 2006-2008 Appendix II Contributors ii Foreword John Stone I should begin this Foreword with an apology. Its predecessor in Volume 19 of the Society’s Proceedings began by saying that, “as this Foreword is being written, Australian voters have just decisively dismissed the Howard government ……”.
    [Show full text]
  • Submissions for the Australia 2020 Summit
    Submissions for the Australia 2020 Summit The Rudd Government will convene an Australia 2020 Summit at Parliament House on 19-20 April 2008 to help shape a long term strategy for the nation’s future. The Summit will bring together some of the best and brightest brains from across the country to tackle the long term challenges confronting Australia’s future. Every Australian has the opportunity to make a submission to the Summit in one of the ten critical areas of discussion: 1. The productivity agenda – education, skills, training, science and innovation 2. The future of the Australian economy 3. Population, sustainability, climate change and water 4. Future directions for rural industries and rural communities 5. A long-term national health strategy – including the challenges of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing population 6. Strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion 7. Options for the future of Indigenous Australia 8. Towards a creative Australia: the future of the arts, film and design 9. The future of Australian governance: renewed democracy, a more open government (including the role of the media), the structure of the Federation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens 10. Australia’s future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world. Submissions Contributing a submission to the Australia 2020 Summit is a way for all Australians to be involved in bringing the best ideas forward to address Australia’s long term challenges. All submissions will be made publicly available on this website and will be presented to the Australia 2020 Summit participants to stimulate discussion and ideas about addressing our future challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia 2020 Summit Initial Summit Report
    AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT INITIAL SUMMIT REPORT AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT - INITIAL SUMMIT REPORT Contents Page No INTRODUCTION 1 SHARED PRIORITIES 2 THE PRODUCTIVITY AGENDA - EDUCATION, SKILLS, TRAINING, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION 6 FUTURE OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY 10 POPULATION, SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITIES 13 FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RURAL INDUSTRIES AND COMMUNITIES 17 A LONG-TERM NATIONAL HEALTH STRATEGY 20 STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES 23 OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA 26 TOWARDS A CREATIVE AUSTRALIA: THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS, FILM AND DESIGN 29 AUSTRALIAN GOVERNANCE 32 AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING REGION AND WORLD 35 CONCLUSION 38 APRIL 2008 i AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT - INITIAL SUMMIT REPORT INTRODUCTION When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the Australia 2020 Summit a little more than two months ago, he invited 1000 Australians to help shape a long term strategy for the nation’s future, to tackle the long-term challenges confronting Australia by thinking in new ways. Since then, all over the nation, tens of thousands of people have grasped the opportunity for a public conversation about the future of Australia. On radio and in the press, in homes, workplaces and public fora, a large number of our fellow citizens have debated their vision for Australia and how to realise it with great energy and passion. Local summits were held across Australia, more than 500 schools debated the issues, a national Youth Summit was convened in Parliament House on 12-13 April, an African community summit in Melbourne on 17 April, and a special meeting was held with the Jewish community on 14 April (because the Summit coincides with Passover).
    [Show full text]
  • Australia 2020 Summit Final Report
    AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT FINAL REPORT Disclaimer This report is intended to provide a record of the Australia 2020 Summit and recommendations on each of the discussion areas for consideration by the Australian Government. It is based on ideas put forward by participants during the Summit discussion sessions, outcomes from preliminary Summit events and ideas generated from public submissions received prior to the Summit. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government. Please be aware that this report may contain images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may have passed away. © Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. The Copyright Act 1968 permits fair dealing for study, research, news reporting, criticism or review. Selected passages may be reproduced for such purposes provided acknowledgment of the source is included. Major extracts or the entire document may not be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or lodged at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. ISBN 978-1-921385-24-7 (online Rich Text Format) ISBN 978-1-921385-25-4 (online PDF) Published by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet One National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 Australia 2020 Summit website http://www.australia2020.gov.au AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT - FINAL REPORT LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 28 May 2008 The Hon Kevin Rudd MP Prime Minister Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Prime Minister It was a privilege to work with you and more than 1000 Australians, from all parts of the community, on the Australia 2020 Summit, the largest genuine community consultative forum held in Australia to date.
    [Show full text]
  • New Social Democracy
    Labo(u)r Governments, Consultation and the New Social Democracy Five case studies of consultation by Labo(u)r governments in Britain and Australia (1997– 2008) Rob Manwaring BA MSc School of Political and International Studies Faculty of Social Sciences Flinders University Adelaide, South Australia Submitted for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: 30 November 2009 Table of Contents Summary .............................................................................................................................. 9 Declaration......................................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 12 List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 15 List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... 17 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 21 The Original Contribution of the Thesis ............................................................ 25 How the Thesis is Organised: an Overview ...................................................... 26 Chapter 1 - The New Social Democracy and Democratic Renewal ................................ 30 The New Social Democracy—Labo(u)r Government Responses in Britain and Australia
    [Show full text]