National Women's Justice Coalition
This is the text of a letter by the NWJC to the Prime Minister and others listed below regarding proposals to abolish the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's specialist commissioners
Dear Prime Minister,
HREOC - Specialist Commissioners
The National Women’s Justice Coalition consists of over 50 national women’s peak organisations, 400 state based groups and services and about the same number of individual members. The purpose of the NWJC is to promote women’s equality before the law.
The NWJC was one of the women’s peak organisations who participated in a statement from the National Women’s Round-Table meeting held in Canberra last week, which noted among other things, the strong opposition of women’s groups to the proposed changes to HREOC.
We are writing to confirm and reiterate our opposition to the proposal that the specialist HREOC commissioner positions, including that of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, be abolished. We consider that the role of Sex Discrimination Commissioner has been, and is, crucial in promoting the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act.
Additionally, we are concerned that the current proposals have been put without consultation with groups representing those who suffer discrimination. While we do see some issues with the present arrangements, these can be resolved through enhancements to the present structure rather than abolition of the specialist positions.
We strongly urge the government to put aside the current proposals and to consult with women’s groups and others about how the current arrangements can be strengthened and improved.
It is noted that the statutory position of Sex Discrimination Commissioner has been vacant since February. We do not consider that the current arrangements, whereby the Privacy Commissioner is Acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner, are satisfactory and a substantive appointment is needed as soon as possible.
The government has an expressed commitment to promoting women’s equality and we look forward to the current proposals being reviewed in this light.
Yours sincerely,
NWJC Executive Officer
cc.
The Hon Peter Reith MP, Minister for Industrial Relations
The Hon Kim Beazley MP, Leader of the Opposition
Senator Cheryl Kernot, Leader, Australian Democrats
Senator Dee Margetts
Senator Bob Brown
Additional web notes:
Take this link if you would like to go to the HREOC web site
Take this link to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act. Section 8 deals with the composition of the Commission and the specialist commissioners.
Take this link to the Sex Discrimination Act
NATIONAL WOMEN'S JUSTICE COALITION INC
Email: nwjc@nwjc.org.au