Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

This amendment seeks to respond to recommendation 19 of the Respect@Workreport: to provide the AHRC with a broad function to inquire into any matter that may relate to systemic or unlawful discrimination under any of the federal antidiscrimination laws either under its own initiative or at the request of the minister. This amendment alone would not fully implement recommendation 19, given that it's confined to unlawful acts under the Sex Discrimination Act rather than systemic unlawful discrimination under all federal antidiscrimination acts. This proposal must be considered together with a proposal to change the core functions of the AHRC with a positive duty, accompanied by compliance and enforcement powers. Given the lateness of the hour, I will leave my remarks there.

Question negatived.