Page 1333 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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I think the ACT much minds since, clearly, it is in line with the policy of this Government to remove references in legislation which alienate or remove women from a central role in the activities in our society.
The changes outlined in the explanatory memorandum, which I tabled when I introduced the Bill, are in line with the requirements, of course, of the Commonwealth's Sex Discrimination Act. The changes are amendments to the Inebriates Act of New South Wales 1900 in its application to the ACT. It may be that we need to consider an updating of the title of that Act in due course - not for reasons of sexist terminology, but because the term "inebriates" might be outdated in some way. But that is not a matter that is presently before us. Perhaps we should consider that at some point in the future.
The changes do not alter the regulatory impact of the Act in any way, but they do provide for that compliance with the Commonwealth Act. We have had some allowance or lenience provided to the ACT by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in allowing us the time to have this legislation brought forward. I cannot be certain, but it seems to me that this process will finally permit legislation in the ACT to be free of sexist language. I am not aware of any other legislation that falls foul of the Commonwealth Act. I am sure that if such legislation is produced or discovered it will be acted upon swiftly.
Equality under the law is an important issue in our society today. The changes in this legislation show our Government's commitment to eliminating discriminatory provisions from ACT legislation because, of course, legislation is absolutely central to the rights, privileges and responsibilities of citizens in our society. Where documents of such pivotal importance make references which are exclusory of a large part of our community, naturally that must have some impact on the way in which people perceive those rights, privileges and responsibilities under the law. I am very pleased to be responsible for bringing this to the house. I thank the house for its support for this legislation.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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