Page 396 - Week 02 - Thursday, 8 March 2007
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framework is inadequate to ensure a substantial political equality between men and women in Australia.
Federalism in Australia has meant that, despite the commitment by some state and territory governments to gender equality, the hostility of the Howard government to fulfilling the goals of gender equality has led, according to the report, “to an unequal pattern of protection, participation, representation and appropriate policy for women, depending on geographic location.”
There is only so far the states and territories can go to compensate if the commonwealth government is not going to provide a strong commitment to substantive gender equality at a national level. This report confirms other recent studies that gender equality in Australia is very much lagging.
While we in the ACT can contribute to greater gender equality through our policy initiatives, we are a small jurisdiction with limited resources and it is ultimately the prerogative of the federal government to provide a proper policy framework that adequately addresses measures to ensure true gender equality for all Australians.
Further, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission yesterday released a report which recommended that a new law be introduced into the federal parliament which protects workers with family and carer responsibilities from discrimination and gives them a right to request flexible work arrangements. I would like to encourage the federal government to consider the 45 recommendations put forward by HREOC, which I believe would lead to a happier society where families can strike a better work-life balance without sacrificing economic prosperity.
The second wave of feminism brought opportunities that benefited women of all ages and all sectors of society. In the past 40 years there have been greater educational and employment opportunities for women, which has improved their income earning capacity and personal autonomy. However, in recent years, particularly since the election of the Howard government, women’s rights and opportunities have been constantly and systematically undermined by various federal government policies that leave women in a position today that is not much better than 40 years ago. However, I am pleased to say that the Stanhope government has achieved real and lasting improvements in the lives of women in the ACT. It has policies, programs and services in place to address the inherent inequalities that women still face.
While women in the ACT are significantly better off than women elsewhere in Australia and around the world, more needs to be done at a federal level to address longstanding inequalities that continue to disadvantage women. I encourage all of us here today to do the most we can to address this disadvantage at every opportunity.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (4.06): Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to congratulate Mr Gentleman on bringing on this motion today. It is quite fitting, of course, that on International Women’s Day we hold such a debate on the matter of gender equity in the ACT. On such a day we gather to celebrate what it is to be a woman and how we play a part in any given community. Naturally there are many events on both a small and large scale that are celebrated to highlight the advancement and achievements of
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