Submission: Domestic Violence & Gender Equality

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:

1. Legislate for a substantively fairer and gender neutral parental leave policy to address gender inequality in parental responsibilities.

2. Investigate and report on models of equitably subsidised and accessible childcare. 

3. 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.