Sex Discrimination Commissioner welcomes government reforms
The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick welcomed the introduction into Parliament yesterday of legislation to strengthen the gender equality laws of Australia.
“I am delighted to see that the Government has accepted a number of the recommendations of the Senate Committee to strengthen and modernise the Sex Discrimination Act,” Commissioner Broderick said.
The legislation will provide greater protection for men and women with family responsibilities in all areas of employment.
“Increasingly men have caring responsibilities for young children and they should be entitled to the same level of legal protection in employment as women,” Commissioner Broderick said.
The new legislation will also strengthen protection from sexual harassment for workers as well as school students.
“Electronic communications technology, such as the internet and mobile phones, has become a new frontier for sexual harassment and bullying, so it is important that reforms are put in place that will provide greater protection for school students under the age of 16,” said Commissioner Broderick. “It pleases me to see these reforms included in the legislation that was introduced into Parliament yesterday.”
Additionally, Commissioner Broderick congratulated the government for making breastfeeding an explicit ground of unlawful discrimination by removing the convoluted process that previously existed.
Media contacts: Brinsley Marlay – 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
