Page 2352 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2016
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age. The commission found that it was not a sufficiently close connection between the requirement that the holder of the position of bar attendant be trustworthy and of good character and the rejection of her application based on a criminal record.
There are other important amendments that the government has included in this legislation, and I would certainly welcome them. Including as a ground of discrimination the fact that someone is a victim of domestic violence is a good inclusion. Including a person’s disability as a ground of vilification is another important addition to the legislation. These are important issues to address. I know that many people in the community and advocacy groups working in these areas will appreciate them.
I support this bill. I think that it does make advances in the law here in the territory. These will have real impacts for people who may be discriminated against or vilified and will provide protections for them, and I hope that the Assembly today will support further my amendments to ensure that we also protect against religious vilification.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Multicultural and Youth Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (4.24): I am pleased to speak in support of the Discrimination Amendment Bill 2016. As Minister for Women, I want to draw attention to a small but significant element of this important bill. Across my portfolio areas in housing, community services, multicultural and youth affairs and advocating for women, I am very aware of the need to foster a compassionate and inclusive society.
We are lucky to be Canberrans residing in the world’s most livable city, where there are high standards of education, health and income. However, as in any society, there are people who, for a variety of reasons outside their control, are in a vulnerable position or going through difficult times in their lives. I want to mention briefly amendments in this bill that are about ensuring that people who are going through difficult times are not subjected to further disruption and distress caused by discrimination.
The bill recognises the vulnerability that comes from a cycle of control and abuse when a person is subjected to domestic or family violence, not only in the privacy of their home but also when the person has to get up, go to work and hold down a job, which may be the person’s key source of recognition and a steady source of income for their family. The bill provides protection against discrimination on the basis of being a victim of domestic and family violence. This will mean that victims of family violence are not subjected to direct detriment because of their circumstances, for example, having a contract not renewed because an employer suspects that a woman might experience domestic violence at home and thinks that keeping her on would be too much of a hassle. The bill will also promote more effective workplace policies on the use of leave and meal breaks to support access to health, social and justice supports available to victims of violence.
As noted by the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick:
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