Women’s work continues to be an important part of the national debate. We argue that although the focus in 2011 was on policy consolidation rather than new initiatives, a policy platform relating to women, work and family has been set in Australia. A shift to recognizing the implications of policy for men’s work and care roles is also discernible. The year 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the first International Women’s Day but, while celebrated around Australia, gender inequities remain. Coming onto the agenda with greater force in 2011 were the gender-related issues of an ageing workforce, growing elder care needs and sexual harassment. This article reviews selected gender statistics and then moves to the matters that were prominent in 2011: mature workers, care, pay equity, women in the defence forces, and legislative reform relating to sex discrimination, the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 and paid parental leave.
Australian Government (2011c) Paid Parental Leave: Dad and Partner Pay – a Policy Statement, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
13.
Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (2011a) Report on the Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy: Phase 1 of the Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force, Sydney: AHRC.
Australian Services Union (ASU) et al. (2010) Application by the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Unions, the Health Services Union, the Australian Workers’ Union of Employees, Queensland, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union and the Australian Education Union, 11 March 2010. Available at: http://www.fwa.gov.au/sites/remuneration/applications/FORM_F1_APPLICATION-ERO-11March2010.pdf.
Consultative Forum on Mature Age Participation (2011) Ageing and the barriers to labour force participation in Australia. Prepared on behalf of the Consultative Forum on Mature Age Participation by the Productive Ageing Centre and National Seniors, December. Available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Programs/ExpPlus/Documents/AgeingandBarriersLFP.pdf.
29.
CroweDKerrP (2011) A tilt at the income scales for women. Australian Financial Review (11 November).
30.
DoddM (2011) Combat roles offered to women. The Australian (12 April).
31.
EllisK (2011a) Minister names new Director for Equal Opportunity Agency. Media Release, 9 March. Available at: http://nfaw.org/new-newspage-15/.
32.
Ellis K (2011b) Key note address: Second annual corporate gender equality summit. Melbourne, 9 June.
New South Wales (NSW) Government (2011) In the application by the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union and others for an equal remuneration order in the social and community services industry: Supplementary contentions, 6 December: http://www.fwa.gov.au/sites/remuneration/submissions/NSW_Gov_6-Dec-11.pdf.
Senate (2008) Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (2008) Report into the Effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in Eliminating Discrimination and Promoting Gender Equality, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
43.
Senate (2011) Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (2011) Report into the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 [Provisions], Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
WilliamsJC (2010) Reshaping the Work–Family Debate: Why Men and Class Matter, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
51.
Workplace Express (2011a) Parliament passes sex and age discrimination protections, 25 May. Available at: www.workplaceexpress.com.au.
52.
Workplace Express (2011b) Legislation wrap-up: New outworker bill; another opposition shot on PPL ‘paymaster role’; and Coal bill through, 24 November. Available at: www.workplaceexpress.com.au.
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Workplace Express (2011c) Equal pay decision on Monday; CFMEU slams scrapping of training levy; Victorian construction deal close; and more, 13 May. Available at: www.workplaceexpress.com.au.
54.
Workplace Express (2012) FWA makes first equal pay ruling, lifts SACS workers’ pay by up to 41%, 1 February. Available at: www.workplaceexpress.com.au.
