Senator MACKAY (9:40 AM) —I thank Senator Murray for his comments and his clarification of the Democrats' position. I wish to briefly amplify the provisions of the first amendment. As I indicated before, we support the broadening of the definition of employment matters covered by the act. Our amendment further extends this definition of employment to include arrangements for dealing with pregnant, potentially pregnant and breastfeeding employees. As Senator Murray has indicated, this additional extension acknowledges both women's right to work and the economic contribution that women make. By making pregnancy an explicit employment matter we are acknowledging that the practical day-to-day management of pregnant workers is the responsibility of the employer, rather than the incumbent and the emphasis being on the employee.

The Labor Party amendment is in line with the thrust of the report of the national pregnancy and work inquiry, Pregnant and productive and submissions to this inquiry have indicated that:

Employees in workplaces that have access to well articulated, comprehensive frameworks that cover sex discrimination, pregnancy and maternity leave felt a sense of security, reduced anxiety and were better placed to plan for their future.

We believe that these are benefits that should flow from extending the definition of employment matters to pregnant, potentially pregnant and breastfeeding employees.

Prior to my commending the amendment to the Senate, I wish to indicate—and I would like the government to respond to this—that the report I alluded to previously, Pregnant and productive, has been sitting around for some time within the government's purview. We have not seen any action with regard to that report. Before we proceed to the amendment, I take the opportunity to ask the parliamentary secretary precisely what is happening with that report and why we have not seen any response from the government to date.