RLC’s submission was made with a particular focus on gender inequality and domestic violence in the workplace.
It is internationally recognised that gender inequality and community attitudes towards women are both a root cause and consequence of domestic violence.
To address these gender equality gaps in the workplace, RLC made recommendations for the Commonwealth Government to:
- Legislate for a substantively fairer and gender neutral parental leave policy to address gender inequality in parental responsibilities.
- Investigate and report on models of equitably subsidised and accessible childcare.
- Legislate “Victim of Family and/or Domestic Violence” as a protected attribute within the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), and any other relevant anti-discrimination laws. Additionally, RLC advocates the amendment of s351 and a paid domestic violence leave clause in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
The Committee will make its report by 24 August 2016.