EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AMENDMENT BILL 1999

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the Bill be now read a second time—And on the amendment
moved thereto by Ms Macklin, viz.—That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the Bill a second reading the House expresses its concern about the nature of the bill and its contribution to the stripping back of Government support for Australian women and the community organisations that represent them, in particular:

(1) the weakening of industrial relations legislation and organisations that aim to improve women[quot ]s employment prospects and workplace treatment, particularly through the Workplace Relations Act and reductions in the power of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission;

(2) the weakening of organisations that exist to provide women with suitable avenues of redress for discrimination, including the Affirmative Action Agency and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission;

(3) failure to respond to major reports, particularly the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Report, Pregnant and Productive;

(4) failure to send appropriate representation to international forums discussing women[quot ]s policy, particularly to the recent International Labour Organisation[quot ]s conference on maternity leave provisions;

(5) the weakening of the role of government organisations that aim to improve the sensitivity of government policies to women, particularly the Office of the Status of Women;

(6) the de-funding of community groups which represent women, including the Girl Guides, the Women[quot ]s Electoral Lobby, the Older Women[quot ]s Network and the Catholic Women[quot ]s League;

(7) failure to consult with a wide range of women[quot ]s organisations, particularly through the reduction in the numbers now attending the national round table consultations;

(8) cuts to child care, education and health-services which women depend upon to be able to work, to raise a family and to improve their living standards;

(9) the development of taxation policies which do not deliver an equal benefit to women and which redistribute more of the burden of taxation onto women through the Goods and Services Tax; and

(10) the de-funding of the social safety net by stealth which impacts significantly on women as women are more dependent upon social security and the Government[quot ]s refusal to release a secret welfare discussion paper containing plans to cut payments to sole parents and people with disabilities"—

Debate resumed.

Question—That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question—put.

The House divided (the Deputy Speaker, Mr Nehl, in the Chair)—

* Tellers

Pairs

Mr Howard Mr Beazley

Mr Downer Mr McLeay

Mr Prosser Ms Burke

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.

Question—That the Bill be now read a second time—put.

The House divided (the Deputy Speaker, Mr Nehl, in the Chair)—

* Tellers

Pairs

Mr Howard Mr Beazley

Mr Downer Mr McLeay

Mr Prosser Ms Burke

And so it was resolved in the affirmative—Bill read a second time.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved forthwith.

On the motion of Mr Reith (Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business), the Bill was read a third time.