Page 1331 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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Mr Humphries: Wistful?
MS FOLLETT: It is wistful, Mr Humphries. You will notice that. He referred to this action as a prelude to the proposed ACT Discrimination Bill. I was going to say - and, in fact, I have written down - that I wish we were hearing the opening bars of the ACT Discrimination Bill, but I think the fact that this is the Inebriates Bill probably rules out that sort of a comment. It also rules out my further comment that this Government is certainly not full bottle on anti-discrimination legislation. In fact, they are struggling badly. I cannot let the occasion pass without mentioning again that that anti-discrimination legislation is desperately needed in the ACT. It is well and truly overdue, and is, I am afraid, a further condemnation of this Government because they have as yet failed to produce it.
I am again stating that the Opposition does support this action, but we would much rather be supporting the introduction into this Assembly of the kind of anti-discrimination legislation that is required, that has been promised, and that has not yet been delivered by this Government.
MRS NOLAN (8.58): As Mr Humphries said when he introduced this Bill into the Assembly, the Inebriates (Amendment) Bill 1991 amends the Inebriates Act 1900 of New South Wales in its application to the Australian Capital Territory and is designed to convert all references to gender neutral terms. Sexist language discriminates against women by not adequately reflecting their role, their status and, often, their very presence in society. It is crucial that we combat this discrimination at every possible opportunity. By eliminating it in government legislation and in other documents, we will be assisting in the move towards eliminating gender discrimination in the wider community.
As members have already heard this evening from Ms Follett, the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984, the Acts Interpretation (Amendment) Act of 1984 and, in fact, the ratification in 1983 of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, have all led to an increase in awareness of these issues at the level of government. The Australian Government Publishing Manual sets out guidelines for eliminating sexist language from all government documentation. It is pleasing to see that the ACT Administration is being encouraged to follow these guidelines. It is important that linguistic portrayal of both sexes is balanced. We must be able to recognise and avoid language that denigrates or trivialises women's activities or that portrays women as dependent on men.
The amendments to this Act as presented to this Assembly by Mr Humphries are in line with the Alliance Government's commitment to the removal of sexist terminology from all ACT legislation, thus allowing full equality under the law. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.
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