Senator REYNOLDS —I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes, with concern, that the Coalition has downgraded gender policy reform and is currently lagging behind many countries in implementing commitments made in the Beijing Platform of Action for women, originally due to be reported on in December 1996;

Senator Abetz —Do you still believe in that?

Senator REYNOLDS —We are still waiting, Senator. The motion continues:

(b)   calls on the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women (Senator Newman) to table the Australian report in the Senate by 25 March 1997; and

(c)   requests the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) to take a lead in gender policy development by making a major parliamentary statement on the Government's priorities for advancing equal opportunity for—

Senator Patterson —You get more women into parliament and then you can talk.

Senator REYNOLDS —What are they doing, Senator? They are not changing any policies. They are downgrading policies and Australian women are suffering. The motion concludes:

. . .

Australian women, including his personal commitment to a 50/50 gender balance for the proposed people's convention and a restoration of the women's budget process.