Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge the remarks of the member for Warringah but I need to say that the government is focused on ensuring alignment with the recommendations in the Respect@Work report and the existing structure of the Sex Discrimination Act. That was our election commitment.

The drafting of the bill provisions is consistent with recommendation 16(a) in that it applies to substantive equality as between men and women. I can also say that the Sex Discrimination Act already contains an objects clause related to the elimination of discrimination on the other grounds of discrimination covered by the act. The member for Warringah's amendment is not consistent with the Respect@Work recommendation and the government does not support it.

See this speech in context