Senator ALLISON (1:09 PM) —The Australian Democrats have been presented with a petition signed by 4,801 Australians from around the country, urging the government to sign and ratify the optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW. I seek leave to table this document.

Leave granted.

Senator ALLISON —This petition was initiated by the Amnesty International Women's Network because they, like us, are concerned at the government's decision not to sign and ratify the optional protocol to CEDAW. The optional protocol gives women the right to take a complaint to the United Nations system. This is a safeguard that is available to women only after all domestic remedies have been addressed. It is intended as a last resort for Australian women.

The government has refused to sign and ratify the optional protocol because of its general dissatisfaction with the United Nations treaty system. No-one denies that it is not a perfect system, but surely there is more opportunity to reform from within rather than by sniping at the sidelines. The government recently announced measures to enhance its engagement with the system to seek reform. It has a sensible way of showing its commitment to true reform by signing this optional protocol. As well as the 4,801 individuals who have signed this petition, more than 100 organisations have advised the Office of the Status of Women that the government should sign and ratify the optional protocol.

On behalf of my colleague Senator Bourne, I would particularly like to commend the activity and commitment of the Amnesty International Victorian Women's Network, which organised a convoy up to Canberra to present this petition. The group stopped at many towns along the way to gather more signatures. The petition is gathered from rural and urban communities and is a true reflection of community attitudes and expectations that the government should sign and ratify the optional protocol to CEDAW.