On 15 May 2008, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, announced that Dr Jeff Harmer, the Secretary of her department, would lead a comprehensive review of the pension system as part of the Government’s broader review of Australia’s Future Tax System.

The Pension Review will investigate measures to strengthen the financial security of seniors, carers, and people with disability by considering the:

(more…)

On 26 June 2008, the Senate asked Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee to inquire into and report on the effectiveness of the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality, with particular reference to:

• the scope of the Act, and the manner in which key terms and concepts are defined;
• the extent to which the Act implements the non-discrimination obligations of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Labour Organization or under other international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

(more…)

26 June 2008 the Acting Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations  to inquire into and report on pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce.

The terms of reference of this Inquiry included, but were not limited to:

• The adequacy of current data to reliably monitor employment changes that may impact on pay equity issues;

(more…)