PRIME MNSSTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVEnY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE PRIHE MINISTER
OPENING OP THE CONFERENCE ON LEGISLATIVE AND AWARD
RESTRICTIONS TO WOKEN'S EMPLOYMENT
17 OCT3OBER 1986
Before a turn to the specific concerns you have gathered to
discuso, I would like briefly to reacquaint you with the
Governront'o comnmitment to Affirmative Action and its
relevance to the current economiic challenges we face. Our
approach to Affirmative Action was based on a belief in
merit ao the aajor principle in determining employment and
promotion. Prom that poscition we proceeded to develop a
program, in consultation with business, unions end other
GovernCots that was compatible with Australia's unique
bunineco, legal and industrial relations traditions.
In ters of the importance to our national economic goals,
the lu; ic behind Affirmative Action is compelingly simple:
no country can afford to neglect half of its huaan
resources. That observation, true as it was in 1984 when
Affiranetive Action was launched, is even more relevant today
when Australia must gear itself to take on the best in world
markets and win. In other words, the benefits to women in
the workforce flowing from Affirmative Action have the
potential to flow on to the economy and nation ao a whole.
Today's conference is a direct result of the process of
co-operation between my Government, employers, unions and
State Governments. Co-operation and consultation is the way
we do business. I believe this conference exemplifies our
general approach and our specific commitment to policy
questions which relate to the status of women.
I should pause to put that specific commitment in its
fullest context. No Government in Australia has set i-tself
so seriously the objective of equal status for women with
that of men in our society or been so successful in
achieving it.
Within the framework of this commitment, we had two
particular important reasons for initiating this conference.
First, the imperative to restore Australia's international
competitive position. Australia needs a flexible, skilled
workforce to face the economic challenge ahead.
Second, our unequivocal commitment to equity for women in
our policy objectives. This means that we will continue to
work hard to eliminate barriers which prevent women from
getting a fair go.
Discriminatory provisions in legislation and awards
prescribing conditions of employment for women clearly
militate cgainst those two objectives.
Undeniably, women have been, and continue to be,
disadvantaged in the labour market. The majority of women
workers aio found in too narrow a range of occupations and
industries. Wocon are concentrated in the sales, clerical
and sorvico, sport and recreation occupational
classifications. They are under-represented in
administrative and executive, transport and communications
occupaticno and in the trades. As a result, women are
particulaay vulnerable to the effects of economic downturn,
new technology and structural change.
We wero zll too well aware of this picture in coming to
office, zad through the Affirmative Action program, together
with other labor market programs, we have taken concrete
steps to tackle the problem. Our approach. has been
by consultation and co-operation with the
parties concerned.
We recognico the importance of developing our policy
positions by taking into account the views of those groups
who will be most directly affected and most active in their
implementation. So, for example, with Affirmative Action,
we did not cimply rush into a program of legislative reform
which wouXd be unacceptable to employers, unions or womon
themselvec. Instead we embarked upon a process of
discussion end experiment. Some 18 months later we were in
an ideal position to develop legislation acceptable to all
parties, passing as it did through the Parliament in August
with only very minor changes.
Through that process we identified the impediments to equal
opportunity in employment for women that arise from
legislative and award restrictions.
Companies participating in the Affirmative Action pilot
program identified restrictions to women's employment in
certain catogories of occupation or certain environments
which were the direct result of legislative or award
prescription. For example, restrictions on the maximum
weights that women can lift are a very real obstacle to
women being employed in jobs requiring manual handling.
There are other restrictions which also deny opportunities
in a range of jobs that otherwise would, and indeed should
be available to women.
3.,
originaZ. 1 many of these ractictive provsion; WOKO
introuced to protect women from~ the very goal hazards in
the workpaace. However, they also grew out of ontroached
attitudoc to the role of women which aco no 1orngor
acceptOblo. These provisiona need to be ro-ouamined in the
light o2' cnti-diacricination and occupational hoalth and
cafety 9o~ icieG.
Through t1, UJorkinj Party on Afgizoative Action we
idontifiac6 thece obstacles to wornian'n @~ ployment ncgooa the
spactruL3 job opportunitie3. Acna Govornnow. t, wo aaw that
there ucs a need for urgjont attantion to bo paid to this
problom, Tho Tdorzl Government hoo a letarship gole in this area.
We do, zc&. er all, require the privato sector, through the
AffirmatAve Action legislation, to undertakeo major reviews
of thoir, own practice and procedures to oncure that women
ar2 not discouraged or indeed prevented Crorm taking up job
opportuitioa. Clearly, however, there are areas of our
legislativa and award Icyotems which go beyond the influence
of indiv. ducil em~ ployers.,
Govarnra: ntG cannot, of couirse, change th-oGe oysterns by
waving a wand. But as advocates of oqual opportunity we
. will do w~ iatever is in our powcr to oncourage the relovant
partier, o come together in a forum such or; today'G to
addroon thcse isoues.
indeed tte stage Is already 5et 2oz change. Th c
DAscxiujination Act which cam~ e into offoct In .194 provided
for an c2 omption for discrimiatoryj Sta lccjolotioa for
two yearc. In uguot 1936 vie revicued that aeoption. Due
to the limited progrecs oadc in ravftewing diGcriminatory
legiGL~ tion made by State Govornaients nnd the nood 5or an
orderly process of review and change, we decided to extend
the e2nemption for a further 12 montha to 1 August 1987.
I would like to make it clear-today, however, that our
Government stands firm in its view that State and Territory
governmnents should take urgent action to remove
discrimiaatory provisions in their own legislation. To that
end, further enemptions beyond I August 1987 will not be
considered unless there is clear and substantial
justification on health arid safety grounds.
Of course the Sex Discrimination Act does not apply to State
awards or to existing or future Federal awards. The States
should take their own initiatives to ensure that their-own
awards are free from discriminatory provisions.
In the case of the Federal Government, Cabinet will bo
shortly considering an amendment to the Conciliation and
Arbitration Act to require the Conciliation and Arbitration
Commiosion, when making future awirds or orders,~ to have
regard to the anti-discrimination provisionis of the Sex
Discrimination Act.
Significcant ground work has been undortakon t1roady. Peak~
councils hnve shown a genuine comrnitmont to renev~ ng.
existing dtocriminatory provisions in Federal nwardo. I
would like to record my appreciation of the willingness
demonstrated by the ACTU and key employer badice during
consultatiens leading up to this COnfercenco, Jointly to
supervise n system which vill accolcritg tho removal oi
currently onisting discriminatory provisiono in awazds.
Some Stato Govornmontc havo oloo actod to oncourago change
to restoictive provisions of State awarda and I aook forward
to the detL Zlcd reports which the Statoo and T'eryltorics
will be mr'& ing on progross in thin area.
in riddin2 our legislative and z. -ird aystoD of
discriminatory practices wo will be taking a significant
step forwaicd in oliminating barriora to Womaoo~ aqUc3
participatn in the work gorco.
F~ or our patthic is part and parcel of a much broader
program of reform to raise tho Gtatus of wom~ en In all walks
of life.
I have raoo: od already to the lowor status of women in
employmont. 3t is true that z~ any wonen conti. nue to look to
their role ivi the home and the family for their pzincip~ l
fulfilment. But we need to rememabor thot wouen alo
continue to take the brunt of outmoded and inappropriate
attitudes qite inconsistent with notions of equality; that
women maike tri over 60 per cent of the racipienta of Socini.
Security benefAits and that ovortwholoingly wotnen cnsrry Via
responsibil. 1tieG Of child roaring in society.
In three sho : t years of Covernont w3 have donoc auch to
address thesi issues, not just because they represent
inequalitios but because they 1upede our efficient economic
and social development.
The Sex Discrimination Act, for example, provides women with
an avenue appeal against actions by individuals or groupe
which discraminate on the grounds of sex, marital status or
pregnancy. Since this Act was passod there have been over
complaints to the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, the
vast majority of which have been settled successfully
through conciliation. The use of this avenue~ by so many
women in Australia in just over two years denronstrateo
without doubt the need for a legislative framework from
within which to encourage attitudinal change.
For those women who are dependent on the Social Se curity
system for thuir income we have done much to alleviate both
their dependency and their poverty. By Christmas of this
year the standard weekly pension/ benefit will be 37.5 per
cent higher than when we came to p'owe r; wc will in fact be
close to achieving the target of increasing pensions and
benefits to 25 per cent of the average weekly earnings.
Additional pznr~ ion or benefit and the family income
supplement wil. also have increased by a significant 70 per
cent and the mother's/ guardian's allowance by 100 per cent.
.7 We recognise too that there are anomalies in the Social
Security systoea resulting from a history of incremental
change to that system. To remedy this we are conducting a
major review of the Social Security system, with femilles in
poverty az a central focus.
We are also Gil too well aware of the difficulties faced by
single parentc who do not get adequate support from their
previous partner or spouse. Our review of child maintenance
arrangementG, about which a dincussion paper was published
for comment last woek, aims to shift the responsibility of
caring for children to both parents.
We want to provide ways in which womon can move from the
poverty cyclo to economic independence. Our initiatives in
encouraging women to participate in labour market programs
and in education all surve to do just that. Our commitment
to the creatAon of 20,000 new child care places by June 1988
acknowledges the very real need for women in all situations
to have access to high quality care for their children.
Our achiovemcnta, I believe, are considerable, but still
more needs to be done. To this end last year I announced in
the Parliamnt that the Government would devise a national
agenda for women until the year 2000. Through consultation
with iany thousanda of Australian women over the past eight
months we ' have gone a long way in ascertaining the views and
aspirations of women in varying circumstances around
Australia. These vieva will hoIp the Government to identify a program,
of action that will ensure that by the year 2000, women not
only have a cay, but have a choice, and most importantly a
fair go. No doubt many of the issues that will arise as a
result of the national agenda will need to be tackled in
co-operation with other sectors of the comm, u nity in much the
same way as we are meeting and talking today.
Our Government is committed to playing a major role in that
process in whatever form is appropriate, and we look forward
to your continued co-operation in helping us to give women a
fair go in employment related fields.
I wish you every success for today's deliberations and look
forward to hearing about the conference outcomes.