On 1 June 2009, the Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced a review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act (the EOWW Act) and Agency (EOWA).
On 31 August 2009, the Minister launched an issues paper and called for public submissions. Submissions closed on 16 October 2009. The report on public consultations will be published here shortly.
The purpose of the review is to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the EOWW Act, and to consider practical ways to improve the equal opportunity framework to deliver better outcomes for Australian women.
The terms of reference for the review are outlined in the issues paper.
All stakeholders and interested parties, including business, unions, employers, employees, academic experts and women's groups, were invited and encouraged to make a submission to the review. In addition, five roundtables were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and individual interviews were conducted with 21 key stakeholders. Survey responses were received from 774 reporting organisations and 859 employees.
The Consultation Report is now available for viewing. The report on public consultations will inform the review recommendations to be considered by the Australian Government.
If you have any queries, or if you would like a hard copy of the issues paper, contact Jennifer Bushell on 02 6212 9059.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (the EOWW Act)?
The EOWW Act is administered by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). It aims to:
- promote merit in employment;
- promote equal employment opportunity and eliminate discrimination; and
- encourage consultation between employers and employees on these issues.
The EOWW Act requires organisations with 100 or more employees to report to EOWA on measures they are taking to promote equal employment opportunity for women in their workplaces.
What is the review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999?
- The Government will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the EOWW Act and EOWA.
- The review will consider whether the EOWW Act and EOWA, in their current form, are best suited to helping business achieve equal employment opportunity.
- The scope of the review is determined by the Terms of Reference.
Why is there a need to review the EOWW Act?
- It has been ten years since the last review, and there have been many legislative and policy changes since then.
- The review is timely as the legislation needs to keep pace with the economic, social and legislative changes that have occurred since the last review.
How long will the review take?
- Given the extensive consultations that will be undertaken as part of the review, it will occur over the course of 2009.
Is there an immediate impact on reporting organisations?
- It will be 'business as usual' for EOWA until the conclusion of the review, and until the Australian Government makes a decision on whether it will act on any of the review recommendations.
- Reporting organisations are encouraged to make a public submission in response to the issues paper.
What form will the review take?
- The issues paper is now publicly available.
- The Australian Government has called for public submissions in response to the Issues Paper. Submissions are now closed
- It is expected that the Office for Women will report to Government later in 2009, or early in 2010.
Will there be public consultation?
- The release of the issues paper signals the start of the public consultation phase.
- The public, including peak bodies and interest groups, are invited to submit their ideas and opinions to the review.
- Submissions may be made in any format. The issues paper, which raises key issues relevant to the review, may be helpful in the formulation of submissions. Submissions close 5pm, Friday 16 October 2009.
- More information about making a submission is available on page 2 of the issues paper.