’WPC[ h–źŻåe ×ļü¾żÓKźī$}8 ˆĀņŠfɦךĮńśõpw±`Q¶®¶¤ń‡MźĪSĖń–³¦ vģ`¶4+HÖĶ5JÕüSn”|†™3ŻÓŽÜÖÆõ”½)ė5ØWŸké-Žē;<>`hĪ„]3~)øĪ(_¢“žD“-®M/ ³fśww<›B’7U„ż\ƒ†/Š;xłķ…H°¢]Ök©ćvŚ{#²PCN1u>Į2X߅®zę’RĄ1Šćī$ōī׎,…ĮS Š#ūĮĖsžSõP9‹V8<ŽŽ­+Ž1ÕB=;"T|z˜5‘ü‚Šü—GŲŖQ³ŸZļŁć"E)¾tĪĪų·łŒżSfzĶ1?)›ČŹę\CŽbH+;kŅ“h·?‚ßފ}ž§ō¬Å~ÆżŻl4ŲĪźk8,‚C£Äk¼u[¼” 8grÅĄRāģ3`}ĻcD_aļżņ_ݑɓčOÆÖ‘F„ßź.Ūćz,ÆxŹ–÷ģż¤D$^ÖŽˆ=čėę\ĮÉEĻģ$ĪŚéŌÜŠõ»%Śg·wh$cć$uÖģ8$ūųSZ¼F‡ ‹Ü‹±üē3Å@›Ž6²§ÉM½Q°Ą¹ö xW3 #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō‰a, ½ha+¤(’€Corel3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  Óņ ņŌ‡¼mx»XXŌAUSTRALIA€Ō#†X)ĘX»¼mxL#Ōó óŠ ° ŠĢĢņ ņÓ  ÓÓ  ÓŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€€€A/43/38€(1988)ó óŠ “ć ŠĢĢ397.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Australia€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/5/Add.40€and€Amend.1)Š O Ÿ Šat€its€114ņņthóó€and€118ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€23€and€25€February€1988€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.114€and€118).Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ398.€€In€her€introduction,€the€representative€stated€that€her€country€had€ratified€the€Convention€inŠ  Z  ŠAugust€1983.€That€had€given€Australia€the€constitutional€foundation€on€which€to€base€importantŠ ó C  Šlegislation€to€counter€discrimination€against€women.€The€Constitution€did€not€include€any€specificŠ Ü,  Šreference€to€equal€rights€for€men€and€women,€but€it€did€not€embody€any€discriminatory€principlesŠ Å  Šeither.Š ®ž  ŠĢ399.€€Since€1983,€progress€had€been€achieved€in€womenššs€employment,€with€an€increase€from€44.5Š €Š  Šper€cent€to€50.3€per€cent€of€female€participation€in€the€labour€force.€The€number€of€child„care€centresŠ i¹ Šhad€risen€by€150€per€cent.€Over€17€per€cent€of€executive€or€managerial€positions€in€the€private€sectorŠ R¢ Šwere€now€held€by€women;€and€50.1€per€cent€of€students€in€higher€education€were€women€comparedŠ ;‹ Šwith€46.3€per€cent€in€1938.Š $t ŠĢ400.€€The€implementation€of€a€national€policy€for€the€education€of€women€and€girls€had€generatedŠ öF Šmany€programmes€to€increase€participation€in€non„traditional€fields€of€study.€A€review€of€socialŠ ß/ Šsecurity€programmes,€the€creation€of€a€child€support€agency,€a€public€education€campaign€onŠ Č Šdomestic€violence,€preventive€health€programmes,€cancer„screening€services€and€communityŠ ± Šdevelopment€services,€were€among€many€different€initiatives€taken€by€the€Government€on€behalfŠ šź Šof€women.Š ƒÓ ŠĢ401.€€However,€in€spite€of€all€the€measures€enumerated,€much€remained€to€be€done.€WomenššsŠ U„ Šaverage€weekly€earnings€were€still€significantly€less€than€menššs;€although€the€ratio€had€improvedŠ >Ž Šsince€1983€from€75€to€79€per€cent;€women€were€still€a€minority€in€political€representation;€andŠ ' w Šattitudes€still€prevailed€which€placed€women€as€the€primary€caretaker.€A€conservative€outlook€didŠ !` Šnot€recognize€womenššs€Ō_ŌunremuneratedŌ_Ō€contribution€to€the€national€economy.€There€was€anŠ ł!I  Šunacceptable€level€of€violence€against€women€and€children.Š ā"2! ŠĢ402.€€The€special€problems€of€indigenous,€immigrant€and€non„English„speaking€women,€as€well€asŠ “$ # Šdisabled€women,€were€of€concern€to€the€Government.€Data€released€recently€revealed€thatŠ %ķ $ ŠAboriginal€women€had€a€life€expectancy€of€from€57€to€65€years€as€compared€with€79€for€otherŠ †&Ö!% Šwomen.€Unemployment€rates€among€there€were€high.€She€provided€the€Committee€with€extensiveŠ o'æ"& Šinformation€on€the€status€of€the€Aboriginal€and€Islander€community,€as€well€as€governmentŠ X(Ø#' Šprogrammes€to€improve€their€well„being.Š A)‘$( ŠĢ403.€€The€new€Disability€Services€Act€passed€in€1986€set€guidelines€for€the€funding€of€non„profitŠ +c&* Šcommunity„based€organizations€providing€services€to€people€with€disabilities.€Forty„three€per€centŠ ü+L'+ Šof€their€clients€were€women.€Special€provision€was€also€made€for€disabled€people€through€theŠ å,5(, ŠProgramme€of€Assistance€for€Sport€and€Recreation€for€Disabled€People€and€most€Family€PlanningŠ Ī-)- ŠŌ_ŌAssociation€centres€employed€staff€who€dealt€with€problems€faced€by€disabled€women.Š ° ŠĢ404.€€The€Federal€Sex€Discrimination€Act,€passed€in€August€1984,€prohibited,€among€the€usual€formŠ ‚Ņ Šof€discrimination,€sexual€harassment€in€employment€and€education.€A€total€of€2,400€complaints€hadŠ k» Šbeen€registered€under€the€Act€between€1984€and€1987.€The€Affirmative€Action€(Equal€EmploymentŠ T¤ ŠOpportunity€for€Women)€Act€had€also€been€adopted€in€1986.€It€provided€that€employers€of€100€orŠ =  Šmore€staff€and€all€higher€education€institutions€should€take€positive€steps€to€improve€employmentŠ & v Šopportunities€for€women.€A€far„reaching€measure€that€was€about€to€be€launched€by€the€FederalŠ  _ ŠGovernment€was€the€š šNational€Agenda€for€Womenšš,€which€provided€a€comprehensive€plan€forŠ ų H Šgovernment€action€to€improve€the€status€of€Australian€women€by€the€year€2000.Š į 1  ŠĢ405.€€Finally,€Australia€had€made€two€reservations€to€the€Convention,€one€on€paid€maternity€leaveŠ ³  Šand€the€other€regarding€exclusion€of€women€from€combat„related€duties.€However,€progressŠ œģ  Šachieved€in€these€two€areas€could€lead€the€Government€to€withdraw€the€reservations€in€the€not€tooŠ …Õ  Šdistant€future.€The€Australian€people€were€proud€of€the€advances€achieved€since€ratification€of€theŠ n¾  ŠConvention€and,€with€the€help€and€active€support€of€voluntary€non„governmental€organizations,Š W§  Šwere€confident€of€reaching€the€ultimate€goals.€Procedural€measures€had€been€instituted€and€strategiesŠ @ Šunder€way€provided€the€means€and€model€for€continuing€progress.Š )y ŠĢ406.€€The€Committee€congratulated€the€representative€of€the€State€party€on€the€report€which€was,Š ūK Šin€the€opinion€of€all€the€experts,€a€model€one.€Not€only€did€it€follow€the€Committeeššs€guidelines€butŠ ä4 Šit€was€candid,€self„critical€and€frank.€The€amount€of€information€provided€was€both€concise€andŠ Ķ Šoverwhelming.€There€was€no€doubt€that€the€Australian€Government€had€made€a€very€seriousŠ ¶ Šcommitment€to€achieve€real€equality€between€men€and€women.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ407.€€As€part€of€the€general€comments,€Members€of€the€Committee€requested€details€on€the€systemŠ qĮ Šof€government€in€Australia.€There€were€several€questions€on€how€states€related€to€the€federalŠ ZŖ ŠGovernment€and€on€how€laws€passed€by€the€central€government€were€not€applicable€in€all€parts€ofŠ C“ Šthe€country.€It€was€remarked€that€there€seemed€to€be€a€contradiction€between€the€possible€applicationŠ ,| Šof€the€Convention€at€the€national€level€and€the€independence€of€state€governments€exempting€themŠ e Šfrom€executing€certain€laws.€It€was€also€asked€how€candidates€for€public€election€were€selected€orŠ žN Šnominated€and€what€the€electoral€system€was.€Š ē 7 ŠĢ408.€€The€Government€of€Australia€was€praised€for€attempting€to€draft€new€legislation€in€gender„Š ¹" ! Šneutral€terms,€and€for€enacting€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act.€More€information€was€requested€on€theŠ ¢#ņ" Špopulationššs€recreation€to€these€innovative€measures.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ409.€€Commendations€were€expressed€regarding€the€establishment€of€pilot€projects€with€the€privateŠ ]&­!% Šsector€to€implement€affirmative€action€plans,€and€questions€were€asked€regarding€the€resultsŠ F'–"& Šachieved.Š /(#' ŠĢ410.€€Several€experts€expressed€concern€about€the€two€reservations€entered€by€Australia€uponŠ *Q%) Šratification€of€the€Convention,€especially€regarding€maternity€leave€provisions€which€applied€to€theŠ ź*:&* Šcivil€service€but€not€to€the€private€sector.€Clarification€was€requested€on€that€discrepancy.€RegardingŠ Ó+#'+ Šthe€other€reservation€which€concerned€womenššs€employment€in€the€armed€forces,€information€wasŠ ¼, (, Šrequested€about€the€definition€of€combat€duties€from€which€women€were€excluded,€and€moreŠ „-õ(- Šstatistics€were€also€requested€on€the€proportion€of€men€and€women€in€the€military€by€rank.Š ° ŠĢ411.€€The€report€and€introduction€had€both€dealt€in€great€detail€with€the€situation€of€AboriginalŠ ‚Ņ Špeople€and€statistics€thereon€had€been€furnished.€However,€it€was€pointed€out€that€no€informationŠ k» Šhad€been€provided€on€the€recent€phenomenon€of€the€š šimportingšš€of€Filipino€brides,€whether€it€wasŠ T¤ Ša€growing€problem,€and€whether€initiatives€had€been€taken€to€help€those€women.€Additional€dataŠ =  Šwere€also€requested€on€non„English„speaking€people.Š & v ŠĢ412.€€It€was€noted€that€certain€offices€had€been€merged€or€had€changed€name,€and€it€was€askedŠ ų H Šwhether€the€Office€for€the€Status€of€Women€was€the€main€co„ordinating€body€for€all€the€womenššsŠ į 1  Šprogrammes€and€whether€it€had€a€budget€large€enough€to€accomplish€its€work.€More€informationŠ Ź   Šwas€also€requested€on€how€all€the€different€bodies€and€offices€involved€in€the€improvement€of€theŠ ³  Šstatus€of€women€related€to€each€other,€and€how€the€womenššs€bureau€changed€or€evolved€over€theŠ œģ  Šyears.Š …Õ  ŠĢ413.€€Further€clarification€was€requested€with€regard€to€the€term€š šindirect€discriminationšš,€whichŠ W§  Šwas€referred€to€in€the€report€as€unlawful.Š @ ŠĢ414.€€It€was€remarked€that€a€conceptual€framework€had€been€established€that€would€enable€all€theŠ b Šobjectives€of€the€Convention€to€be€achieved,€and€it€was€asked€what€the€priority€areas€were,€what€theŠ ūK Šminimum€and€maximum€goals€were,€and€what,€in€the€view€of€the€representative,€was€the€majorŠ ä4 Šobstacle€hindering€the€implementation€of€the€national€plan.Š Ķ ŠĢ415.€€In€reference€to€the€implementation€of€article€2€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€theŠ Ÿļ ŠConstitution€did€not€provide€for€equality€of€the€sexes€and€that€the€retirement€and€marriage€ageŠ ˆŲ Šremained€different€for€the€two€sexes.€It€was€asked€if€there€was€any€particular€reason€for€that.Š qĮ ŠĢ416.€€More€commendations€were€expressed€regarding€the€establishment€of€pilot€projects€with€theŠ C“ Šprivate€sector€to€implement€affirmative€action€plans€and€questions€were€asked€regarding€the€resultsŠ ,| Šachieved.Š e ŠĢ417.€€The€Committee€also€praised€the€Government€of€Australia€for€its€efforts€to€eradicate€sexŠ ē 7 Šstereotypes€through€legislation,€public€information€campaigns€and€the€media,€and€it€was€askedŠ Š!   Šwhether€noticeable€changes€in€public€opinion€had€occurred.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ418.€€The€initiative€taken€by€the€Australian€Government€to€abolish€sexist€language€was€praised€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šmore€information€was€requested€on€initiatives€to€eliminate€pornography.€Questions€were€also€askedŠ t%Ä $ Šconcerning€the€wages€for€housework€and€the€implementation€of€paternity€leave.€In€efforts€to€modifyŠ ]&­!% Šsocial€and€cultural€patterns,€it€was€asked€whether€the€concerns€of€Aboriginal€women€were€taken€intoŠ F'–"& Šconsideration€and€whether€the€recommendations€of€the€Aboriginal€womenššs€task€force€had€beenŠ /(#' Šimplemented.Š )h$( ŠĢ419.€€Other€questions€were€raised€regarding€national€compliance€with€central€Government€measuresŠ ź*:&* Šand€it€was€asked€if€conflict€and€confrontation€often€occurred€and€how€they€were€solved.€On€the€otherŠ Ó+#'+ Šhand,€it€was€remarked€that€more€efforts€should€be€employed€in€the€socialization€of€men,€especiallyŠ ¼, (, Šin€regard€to€violence€against€women€and€rape.Š „-õ(- Ї420.€€Although€it€was€obvious€that€many€womenššs€organizations€were€active€in€Australia,€it€wasŠ ° Šasked€what€their€involvement€in€party€politics€was€and€whether€there€were€steps€to€increase€womenššsŠ ™é Šparticipation€in€political€life.€More€information€was€requested€on€steps€taken€to€assist€women€toŠ ‚Ņ Šadvance€in€the€public€services,€their€involvement€in€trade€unions€and€in€the€higher€and€lower€courts,Š k» Šthe€positions€and€rank€women€held€in€the€Foreign€Ministry€and€what€their€participation€was€atŠ T¤ Šinternational€events.€Š =  ŠĢ421.€€The€overall€education€situation€was€considered€good€but€experts€questioned€the€high€rate€ofŠ  _ Šdrop„outs€among€girls.€It€was€asked€what€was€being€done€to€prepare€teachers€to€bring€about€a€changeŠ ų H Šin€attitudes.€Note€was€taken€of€the€extensive€adult€education€programmes€and€it€was€asked€whetherŠ į 1  Šthey€were€available€to€Aboriginal€women.€Remarks€were€made€on€the€coeducational€versus€single„Š Ź   Šsex€educational€system.Š ³  ŠĢ422.€€Remarks€were€made€regarding€existing€child„care€facilities€which€were€not€free€or€subsidizedŠ …Õ  Šand€it€was€asked€what€percentage€of€the€individual€salary€was€devoted€to€these€services.€There€wasŠ n¾  Šgeneral€agreement€that€women€should€be€free€to€choose€their€own€occupation,€and€in€that€regardŠ W§  Šexperts€commended€the€Government€of€Australia€in€removing€protective€legislation.€InformationŠ @ Šwas€requested€on€the€background€of€the€discussions€preceding€the€labour€reform€law.€QuestionsŠ )y Šwere€also€asked€about€the€means€of€enforcing€the€principle€of€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value.Š b ŠĢ423.€€Judging€from€the€report,€the€labour€market€was€very€segregated€and€women€were€engaged€inŠ ä4 Špart„time€work€than€men.€That€made€women€poorer€than€men,€it€was€noted,€an€additionalŠ Ķ Šinformation€was€requested€regarding€immigrant€and€Aboriginal€women€in€the€labour€market.Š ¶ ŠĢ424.€€If€family€planning€and€abortion€facilities€information€was€not€circulated€in€certain€statesŠ ˆŲ Šbecause€it€was€prohibited,€how€then€could€such€material€reach€women€in€those€areas,€it€was€asked.Š qĮ ŠIt€was€noted€that€the€infant€mortality€rate€was€two€thirds€higher€among€Aboriginals,€and€moreŠ ZŖ Šinformation€was€requested€on€the€causes€of,€and€solution€to,€that€problem.€The€provisions€on€sex„Š C“ Špredetermination,€artificial€insemination€and€fertilization€ņņin€vitroóó€were€noted€and€it€was€askedŠ ,| Šwhether€the€views€of€womenššs€organizations€had€been€sought€in€that€regard.Š e ŠĢ425.€€Clarifications€were€requested€on€the€rights€of€children€born€out€of€wedlock€including€theirŠ ē 7 Šinheritance€rights,€and€more€statistical€information€also€was€requested€regarding€marriage,€divorceŠ Š!   Šand€consensual€unions.€It€was€asked€whether€Aboriginal€couples€abided€by€the€existing€family€lawsŠ ¹" ! Šor€if€there€were€separate€laws.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ426.€€The€Committee€concluded€its€remarks€by€proposing€to€the€representative€of€Australia€that€theŠ t%Ä $ Šcountry€should€consider€holding€a€seminar€on€the€status€of€women.€It€was€also€suggested€thatŠ ]&­!% ŠAustralia€should€be€asked€to€help€the€Committee€secretariat€prepare€for€a€seminar€of€State€partiesŠ F'–"& Šon€the€preparation€of€reports.€One€of€the€working€papers€for€that€seminar€would€include€a€paper€onŠ /(#' Šthe€Australian€experience.Š )h$( ŠĢ427.€€Before€replying€to€questions,€the€representative€of€Australia€introduced€two€otherŠ ź*:&* Šrepresentatives€of€the€Australian€Government€who€would€share€with€her€responses€and€clarificationsŠ Ó+#'+ Šrequested€by€the€Committee.€She€mentioned€that€it€had€been€difficult€to€obtain€certain€data€requestedŠ ¼, (, Šbecause€of€the€16„hour€time€difference€in€Australia.€To€facilitate€the€work€of€the€Committee€she€hadŠ „-õ(- Šprovided€copies€of€the€replies€to€all€members,€since€replies€would€have€to€be€abridged.Š ° ŠĢ428.€€In€regard€to€the€Australian€federal€system€of€Government,€when€there€was€inconsistencyŠ ‚Ņ Šbetween€state€and€federal€legislation€in€an€area€where€both€jurisdictions€might€validly€enactŠ k» Šlegislation,€federal€legislation€prevailed.€Australia€fully€accepted€its€obligations€as€a€sovereign€StateŠ T¤ Šratifying€a€treaty.€The€statement€made€by€Australia€on€ratification€concerning€the€federal€systemŠ =  Šdescribed€the€way€in€which€the€treaty€would€be€implemented€in€Australia.€As€the€report€indicated,Š & v Šconsultation€had€taken€place€with€the€states€and€the€Northern€Territory€in€regard€to€the€ConventionŠ  _ Šand€these€consultations€continued€after€ratification.Š ų H ŠĢ429.€€Australiaššs€position€on€reservations€was€that€they€were€matters€of€gradual€progress;€thisŠ Ź   Šimplied€eventual€removal€of€reservations.€The€Office€on€the€Status€of€Women€had€funded€researchŠ ³  Šon€maternity€leave€provisions€in€the€public€and€private€sector€and€an€examination€of€the€feasibilityŠ œģ  Šof€funding€schemes€for€leave.€€Regarding€the€armed€forces,€about€35€per€cent€of€positions€in€theŠ …Õ  Šregular€component€of€the€Australian€defence€forces€were€now€open€to€women€in€competition€withŠ n¾  Šmen€as€compared€with€only€8€per€cent€of€positions€in€1983.€The€number€of€women€in€the€defenceŠ W§  Šforces€had€doubled€in€the€period€1983„1987€and€was€now€8.6€per€cent€of€the€total€enlistment.Š @ ŠĢ430.€€Some€experts€had€requested€clarification€on€the€term€š šindirect€discriminationšš€which€was€usedŠ b Šin€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act.€Discrimination€on€the€grounds€of€sex€included€the€situation€whereŠ ūK Ša€person€was€required€to€meet€a€condition€that€she€or€he€could€not€meet€and€that€most€people€of€theŠ ä4 Šopposite€sex€could€meet€or€that€was€not€reasonable€in€the€given€circumstances.€For€example,€aŠ Ķ Šrequirement€that€elevator€operators€should€be€six€feet€tall€would€exclude€a€higher€proportion€ofŠ ¶ Šwomen€than€men€and€could€not€be€said€to€be€a€reasonable€job€requirement.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ431.€€There€had€been€questions€regarding€the€different€womenššs€offices€and€units€created€by€theŠ qĮ Šfederal€Government.€The€National€Womenššs€Consultative€Council€was€serviced€by€the€Office€of€theŠ ZŖ ŠStatus€of€Women.€The€Human€Rights€Commission€was€now€named€the€š šHuman€Rights€and€EqualŠ C“ ŠOpportunity€Commissionšš.€There€were€womenššs€units€in€all€departments.€Their€role€was€to€ensureŠ ,| Šthat€policy€developed€within€that€department€was€consistent€with€the€Governmentššs€commitmentŠ e Što€progress€on€the€status€of€women.€Their€location€in€the€departmental€structure€was€crucial€sinceŠ žN Šaccess€to€decision„making€at€that€level€was€needed.€These€units€met€regularly€with€the€Office€of€theŠ ē 7 ŠStatus€of€Women€to€exchange€information.€The€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women€relied€on€these€unitsŠ Š!   Što€monitor€departmental€activities€while€the€Office€concentrated€on€matters€relative€to€more€than€oneŠ ¹" ! Šdepartment€at€executive€Government€level.€In€1986,€the€Government€had€upgraded€the€AboriginalŠ ¢#ņ" ŠWomenššs€Unit€to€the€š šOffice€of€Aboriginal€Womenšš,€headed€by€a€Director.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ432.€€The€Office€of€Multicultural€Affairs€within€the€Prime€Ministerššs€Office€was€in€charge€ofŠ ]&­!% Šdeveloping€policy€and€designing€assistance€programmes€to€meet€the€needs€of€groups€such€as€ThaiŠ F'–"& Šand€Philippine€spouses.€Filipino€women€had€been€involved€in€the€so„called€š šMail„order€brideššŠ /(#' Šbusiness€in€order€to€gain€permanent€residence€in€Australia.€This€matter€had€been€raised€by€the€OfficeŠ )h$( Šof€the€Status€of€Women€in€the€current€review€of€immigration€policy€and€administration€in€Australia.Š *Q%) ŠĢ433.€€The€national€agenda€for€women€was€the€priority€for€the€Government,€as€mentioned€in€herŠ Ó+#'+ Šintroductory€remarks.€The€agenda€was€a€five„year€action€plan€in€which€priority€would€be€allocatedŠ ¼, (, Što€initiatives€that€improved€womenššs€economic€independence€and€choice.€There€were€no€Ō_ŌminimumŠ „-õ(- Šor€maximum€goals,€but€a€progressive€move€towards€change.€Accordingly,€child„care€services,Š ° Šimprovements€in€education€and€training€and€employment€and€attitudinal€changes€to€domesticŠ ™é Šviolence€and€the€way€women€were€perceived€in€society€were€all€critical€issues.€The€biggest€barrierŠ ‚Ņ Šwas€the€attitude€of€society€itself€that€often€saw€change€as€threatening€to€normal€life€patterns.Š k» ŠĢ434.€€In€replying€to€questions€asked€under€article€2€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€went€onŠ =  Što€say€that€if€retirement€age€was€earlier€for€women€that€for€men,€it€was€a€case€of€positiveŠ & v Šdiscrimination.€After€all,€women€had€carried€the€double€burden€for€a€while€longer€than€men.Š  _ ŠĢ435.€€As€to€the€reactions€of€the€population€to€the€changes€envisaged,€she€said€that,€as€in€every€otherŠ į 1  Šcountry,€there€was€a€ground€swell„of€conservative€opinion€in€Australia€on€matters€concerning€theŠ Ź   Šfamily€and€the€role€of€women.€This€tendency€was€balanced€by€the€respect€for€principles€of€š šfair„Š ³  Šplayšš€and€the€right€to€equality€of€opportunity.€However,€reactions€to€adoption€of€the€SexŠ œģ  ŠDiscrimination€Act€indicated€a€very€strong€belief€in€equal€opportunities€and€discriminationŠ …Õ  Šlegislation.Š n¾  ŠĢ436.€€As€part€of€the€overall€affirmative€action€plan,€the€current€position€on€equal€pay€for€work€ofŠ @ Šequal€value€had€been€summarized€in€a€1986€decision€by€the€Conciliation€and€ArbitrationŠ )y ŠCommission€in€a€case€brought€by€the€Royal€Australian€Nursing€Federation.€The€Federation€arguedŠ b Šthat€nurseššs€work€was€undervalued€because€it€was€a€traditional€female€occupation€and€that€the€sexŠ ūK Šof€the€workers€had€contributed€to€the€evaluation€of€the€work.€Thought€the€Commission€rejected€theŠ ä4 Šnotion€of€š šcomparable€worthšš,€it€reiterated€its€commitment€to€the€principle€of€equal€pay€for€workŠ Ķ Šof€equal€value€and€left€the€way€open€for€future€applications.€The€nursing€profession€has€experiencedŠ ¶ Šsubstantial€rises€in€their€salaries€since€then.€She€then€referred€the€experts€to€the€supplemental€reportŠ Ÿļ Šcirculated€to€them.€The€merit€principle€was€paramount;€only€when€candidates€were€of€equalŠ ˆŲ Šexpertise€could€positive€discrimination€occur.€Compliance€required€employers€to€identify€over/underŠ qĮ Šrepresentation€of€women€within€their€labour€forces€and€to€take€action€to€redress€the€imbalance€inŠ ZŖ Šareas€such€as€training€opportunities.€The€private€sector€had€just€begun€to€react€to€the€affirmativeŠ C“ Šaction€plans.€Research€so€far€had€shown€that€Australia€had€a€high€level€of€gender„based€occupationalŠ ,| Šsegregation.Š e ŠĢ437.€€The€Media€Council€of€Australia€monitored€adherence€to€the€guidelines€which€were€notŠ ē 7 Šenforceable€by€law.€The€Office€on€the€Status€of€Women€was€conducting€a€content€analysis€on€howŠ Š!   Šwomen€were€currently€portrayed€in€advertising.€From€this€research€the€Government€would€considerŠ ¹" ! Šhow€the€industry€responded€to€the€findings€and€would€review€options€for€improved€regulation€ifŠ ¢#ņ" Šprogress€was€not€satisfactory.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ438.€€The€Government,€when€necessary,€took€a€different€approach€to€safeguard€and€accommodateŠ ]&­!% Šthe€rights€and€cultural€distinctiveness€of€aboriginal€people,€most€notably€within€the€context€of€theŠ F'–"& Špolicy€of€aboriginal€self„determination€and€self„management.Š /(#' ŠĢ439.€€Regarding€the€questions€on€domestic€violence,€new€procedures€had€been€introduced€such€asŠ *Q%) Šš šprotection€ordersšš.€Police€were€being€retrained€to€take€a€greater€role€in€the€enforcement€ofŠ ź*:&* Šprotection€orders€to€violence€against€women;€the€issue€of€rape€was€difficult€to€resolve€in€the€shortŠ Ó+#'+ Šterm.€Australiaššs€second€report€would€provide€an€update€on€programmes€in€these€areas.€OngoingŠ ¼, (, Šactivities€such€as€the€Domestic€Violence€Community€Education€Campaign€endeavoured€to€reach€theŠ „-õ(- Šmale€consciousness€through€a€media€campaign,€information€directed€at€the€police,€the€legalŠ ° Šprofession€and€the€helping€professions,€as€well€as€the€development€of€school€materials.€€FeministŠ ™é Šorganizations€had€established€support€systems€in€all€of€the€above€and€it€was€to€their€credit€thatŠ ‚Ņ Šawareness€and€action€had€taken€place,€including€the€creation€of€new€legislation.Š k» ŠĢ440.€€Some€Australian€feminists€had€questioned€the€value€of€national€machinery€for€women€whenŠ =  Šit€had€been€first€proposed€in€the€mid„1970s,€fearing€that€it€would€become€a€token€provision.€MostŠ & v Šfeminists€had,€however,€in€fact€demanded€such€institutions,€although€they€had€watched€institutionalŠ  _ Šactivities€with€a€critical€eye.€Most€of€the€women€working€in€the€womenššs€units€of€the€state€andŠ ų H Šfederal€Government€were€themselves€feminists.€Consultation€with€non„governmental€groups€wasŠ į 1  Šconducted€on€a€regular€basis€through€liaison€networks€and€meetings.Š Ź   ŠĢ441.€€The€representative€then€turned€to€the€answers€involving€the€small€participation€of€women€inŠ œģ  ŠParliament.€The€process,€she€indicated,€was€long€and€arduous.€To€succeed€in€elections,€a€womanŠ …Õ  Šcandidate€had€to€succeed€first€within€the€local€and€state„level€bodies€of€the€political€party€of€herŠ n¾  Šchoice.€She€had€to€contest€party€preselection€before€she€could€stand€for€election€and€seek€to€win€theŠ W§  Švotes€of€the€Australian€electorate.€To€assist€in€the€process,€the€National€Womenššs€ConsultativeŠ @ ŠCouncil€was€about€to€launch€a€national€series€of€seminars€with€womenššs€organizations,€tracing€theŠ )y Šhistory€of€Australian€womenššs€political€participation€since€the€struggle€for€the€vote,€as€well€asŠ b Šproviding€practical€information€and€advice€on€how€to€become€politically€active.Š ūK ŠĢ442.€€Since€1977,€trade€union€awareness€had€increased€and€in€1983€a€womenššs€policy€had€beenŠ Ķ Šissued€by€the€Australian€Council€of€Trade€Union€to€improve€womenššs€participation€in€the€work„Š ¶ Šforce.€Four€out€of€the€10€executive€councillors€were€women.€Women€represented€8€per€cent€of€theŠ Ÿļ Štotal€executive€staff€in€the€federal€Government;€50€per€cent€of€law€students€but€less€than€8€per€centŠ ˆŲ Šof€all€barristers€were€women.€Overall€about€11€per€cent€of€all€judges,€magistrates,€barristers,Š qĮ Šsolicitors€and€legal€officers€were€women.€Little€improvement€had€been€experienced€within€seniorŠ ZŖ Šdiplomatic€posts,€but€currently€two€ministers€were€women.Š C“ ŠĢ443.€€Drop„out€rates€for€girls€had€considerably€lessened€as€the€value€of€an€education€for€girls€hadŠ e Šbeen€established.€School€retention€rates€in€the€final€years€of€schooling€were€now€higher€for€girls€thanŠ žN Šfor€boys;€in€1987€there€were€57€per€cent€of€girls€as€compared€to€49€per€cent€of€boys.Š ē 7 ŠĢ444.€€The€Australian€Teachers€Federation€was€a€strong€advocate€for€affirmative€action€and€equalŠ ¹" ! Šopportunity€programmes.€There€was€limited€gender„specific€data€on€aboriginal€study€grantsŠ ¢#ņ" Š(Ō_ŌABSTUDYŌ_Ō);€of€the€20,000€adult€persons€who€had€received€these€grants,€approximately€65€per€centŠ ‹$Ū# Šwere€women,€including€the€first€female€aboriginal€solicitor€(1986)€and€first€female€aboriginalŠ t%Ä $ Šhelicopter€pilot€(1987).€As€a€result€of€the€lack€of€schools€or€colleges€in€the€rural€and€remote€areas,Š ]&­!% Šaboriginal€and€immigrant€women€undertaking€continued€education€had€to€leave€their€localŠ F'–"& Šcommunities€and€family€support€systems.€The€care€of€children€in€an€alien€environment€was€a€crucialŠ /(#' Šconcern€and€caused€much€anxiety,€which€in€turn€inhibited€opportunities€to€acquire€further€education.Š )h$( ŠĢ445.€€She€had€noted€the€Committeeššs€interest€in€single„sex€schools€and€explained€that€in€AustraliaŠ ź*:&* Šteachers€were€also€very€interested€in€this€question,€specially€in€single„sex€classes€within€co„Š Ó+#'+ Šeducational€schools€to€assist€girls€in€areas€where€co„education€placed€them€at€a€disadvantage.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š446.€€As€stated€before,€the€Government€had€an€ongoing€commitment€to€expand€child„care€places€inŠ ° Šthe€years€ahead.€Fees€for€Australian€government„funded€child€care€were€fixed€according€to€parentsššŠ ™é Šincomes€and€lower€fees€were€available€for€those€on€low€incomes.€The€system€was€š šneeds„basedššŠ ‚Ņ Šand€not€targeted€to€groups€of€special€concerns,€sole€parents,€immigrants,€aboriginal€women.Š k» ŠĢ447.€€The€representative€stated€that€she€had€circulated€the€newest€statistics€on€aboriginal€women€inŠ =  Šthe€labour€market.€As€could€be€seen,€women€had€a€higher€representation€in€the€clerical€fields,€at€32Š & v Šper€cent,€employed€in€its€majority€by€federal,€state€and€local€government.€For€many€women€part„timeŠ  _ Šwork€was€preferable,€given€child„raising€responsibilities.Š ų H ŠĢ448.€€There€had€been€increased€access€to€abortion€over€the€past€15€years.€The€Labour€Party€hadŠ Ź   Šsupported€the€particular€right€of€women€to€choose€since€1984.€It€had€recently€decided€that€abortionŠ ³  Šcould€be€freely€debated€at€the€state€and€federal€level€and€that€party€members€could€registerŠ œģ  Šindividual€conscience€votes€in€respect€of€proposed€legislative€changes.Š …Õ  ŠĢ449.€€Family„planning€information€was€issued€upon€request.€The€Government€believed€that€aŠ W§  Šnational€approach€on€dissemination€of€this€type€of€information€was€not€feasible€owing€to€diverseŠ @ Šcultural€and€social€backgrounds€and€respective€state€legislation.Š )y ŠĢ450.€€Women€had€not€been€consulted€on€the€initial€stages€of€development€of€reproductiveŠ ūK Štechnologies€as€this€development€had€taken€place€in€independent€laboratories€and€universities.Š ä4 ŠConcern€had€grown€about€the€moral€and€legal€implications€of€ņņin€vitroóó€fertilization€and€embryoŠ Ķ Šresearch.€Each€of€the€state€and€federal€governments€had€conducted€an€inquiry€on€the€implicationsŠ ¶ Šand€a€national€Ō_ŌbioethicsŌ_Ō€committee€was€about€to€be€formed.€Feminists€had€reminded€the€GovernmentŠ Ÿļ Šthat€these€technologies€had€profound€implication€for€women€and€it€had€been€decided€that€50€per€centŠ ˆŲ Šof€the€membership€of€the€committee€would€be€women.€Surrogate€motherhood€was€illegal€inŠ qĮ ŠAustralia.Š ZŖ ŠĢ451.€There€were€no€special€provisions€regarding€aboriginal€infant€mortality.€The€federal€GovernmentŠ ,| Šrecognized€that€š šband„aid€approachesšš€tended€to€perpetuate€aboriginal€disadvantage€unlessŠ e Šaccompanied€by€measures€that€sought€to€develop€self„reliance€and€economic€independence€and€thatŠ žN Šthey€key€to€aboriginal€advancement€was€the€improvement€of€the€Aboriginesšš€living€conditions.Š ē 7 ŠAdditional€information€had€been€furnished€in€the€text€circulated€to€the€Committee.Š Š!   ŠĢ452.€€The€Australian€Government€had€progressively€reviewed€its€social€security€programmes.€TheŠ ¢#ņ" Šobjectives€for€women€receiving€family€allowances€and€other€forms€of€assistance€were€to€reduceŠ ‹$Ū# Šdependency€on€government€income€while€facilitating€opportunities€for€women€throughŠ t%Ä $ Šdevelopments€in€other€areas,€to€accord€priority€for€women€with€low€incomes,€to€ensure€that€familyŠ ]&­!% Šassistance€reached€mothers€and€to€ensure€adequate€access€to€services.Š F'–"& ŠĢ453.€€Children€of€common€law€marriages€were€fully€protected€without€€regard€to€the€status€of€theirŠ )h$( Šparents.€This€protection€included€equal€rights€to€those€of€conventional€marriages€with€regard€toŠ *Q%) Šinheritance.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ454.€€Both€parents€were€entitled€to€guardianship.€However,€women€in€common€law€marriages€wereŠ ¼, (, Šless€protected.€In€only€three€states€(Tasmania,€New€South€Wales€and€Victoria)€could€the€womanŠ „-õ(- Šclaim€maintenance.€Either€or€both€parents€could€sign€the€birth€register.€The€mother€could€enter€theŠ ° Šfatherššs€name€but€this€would€not€have€legal€effect€in€establishing€paternity.€The€child€was€entitledŠ ™é Što€the€same€rights€whether€or€not€the€fatherššs€name€or€signature€appeared€on€the€register.€AllŠ ‚Ņ Šdisputes€regarding€the€family€were€seen€by€the€Family€Court€which€consisted€of€60€judges,€of€whomŠ k» Šfive€were€women.Š T¤ ŠĢ455.€€There€was€no€constraint€for€aboriginal€couples€to€apply€the€Australian€family€law.€In€remoteŠ & v Šareas,€aboriginal€people€preferred€not€to€become€involved€with€the€ordinary€laws€of€marriage.€ThoseŠ  _ Šliving€in€urban€areas€did€apply€them€more€frequently;€they€were€free€to€choose.€In€addition,Š ų H Šaboriginal€people€hardly€made€any€use€of€the€Family€Court€system€since€they€were€able€to€solve€anyŠ į 1  Šdispute€outside€the€legal€system.€Their€most€common€resort€to€the€courts€had€been€in€cases€ofŠ Ź   Šchildrenššs€maintenance€whether€from€a€marriage€or€a€ņņde€factoóó€situation.€The€Law€ReformŠ ³  ŠCommission€had€made€proposals€to€enable€tribal€marriage€to€be€more€formally€recognized.€The€mainŠ œģ  Šdilemma€about€a€dual€legal€path€situation€was€that€traditional€aboriginal€custom€involved€marriageŠ …Õ  Šat€ages€lower€than€under€the€Australian€legal€system.Š n¾  ŠĢ456.€€The€representative€thanked€the€Committee€for€their€interest€in€the€examination€of€AustraliaššsŠ @ Šinitial€report.€One€representative€indicated€that€she€would€be€consulting€the€Government€as€to€theŠ )y Špossibility€of€holding€a€seminar€in€Australia€on€the€status€of€women.€She€also€indicated€that€if€theŠ b ŠSecretariat€decided€to€hold€a€workshop€on€the€preparation€of€report,€Australia€would€be€more€thanŠ ūK Šwilling€to€present€a€paper€on€the€subject.Š ä4 ŠĢ457.€€The€Committee€once€more€reiterated€its€appreciation€for€the€thoroughness€of€the€presentationŠ ¶ Šand€answers€of€the€representatives,€which€were€prepared€at€such€short€notice,€and€wished€them€theŠ Ÿļ Šbest€of€success€in€their€endeavours.Š  ˆŲ Šņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€€A/49/38€Ō_Ō(1994)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ370.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Australia€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/Ō_ŌAULŌ_Ō/2)€at€itsŠ l¼ Š251ņņstóó€meeting,€on€31€January€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.251).Š U„ ŠĢ371.€€In€her€introductory€statement,€the€representative€of€Australia€recalled€her€GovernmentššsŠ ' w Šcommitment€to€eliminating€discrimination€against€women€and€referred€to€the€means€used€to€promoteŠ  ` Šthe€status€of€women.€Upon€ratification€of€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ ł I ŠDiscrimination€against€Women€in€1983,€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act€was€passed€in€1984€and€theŠ ā 2  ŠAffirmative€Action€(Equal€Employment€Opportunity€for€Women)€Act€in€1986.€Several€legislativeŠ Ė   Šamendments€had€been€made€since€then,€strengthening€the€sex€discrimination€and€sexual€harassmentŠ “  Šprovisions.€The€representative€stressed€that€her€countryššs€federal€system€of€government€required€aŠ ķ  Šcooperative€approach€between€the€Federal€Government€and€the€governments€of€the€States€andŠ †Ö  ŠTerritories€to€implement€the€Convention.€The€New€National€Agenda€for€Women,€released€in€1993Š oæ  Šby€the€Federal€Government,€reflected€many€articles€of€the€Convention€and€was€a€guideline€to€theŠ XØ  Šyear€2000.Š A‘ ŠĢ372.€€The€second€periodic€report€followed€the€tradition€of€frankness€about€what€remained€to€be€doneŠ c Što€implement€the€Convention.€As€part€of€programme€to€raise€awareness€on€equal€rights,€the€reportŠ üL Šhad€been€widely€distributed€throughout€the€country.€Government€policy€advise€mechanisms€on€theŠ å5 Šstatus€of€women€had€been€reviewed€and€several€new€consultative€mechanisms€established.Š Ī ŠĢ373.€€Womenššs€representation€in€public€life€remained€one€of€the€areas€of€concern,€since€only€14.5Š  š Šper€cent€of€the€members€of€Australiaššs€parliament€were€women.€The€reasons€for€womenššs€absenceŠ ‰Ł Šin€decision„making€and€strategies€to€influence€the€political€agenda€would€be€discussed€in€a€paperŠ rĀ Šon€women€and€government€in€Australia€and€New€Zealand.€Womenššs€Ō_ŌunderrepresentationŌ_Ō€in€theņņóóŠ [« Šjudiciary€was€addressed€by€the€Federal€Attorney„General€in€a€report€on€the€process€of€judicialŠ D” Šappointments.Š -} ŠĢ374.€€Violence€against€women,€as€a€violation€of€womenššs€human€rights€and€a€form€of€discrimination,Š ’O Šwas€another€area€of€national€concern€and€a€policy€priority€for€the€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women.Š č 8 ŠThe€National€Strategy€on€Violence€against€Women€provided€a€framework€for€concerted€action€atŠ Ń!!  Šall€levels€of€government.€A€national€education€programme€on€violence€against€women€had€beenŠ ŗ" ! Šlaunched€recently.Š £#ó" ŠĢ375.€€The€third€area€of€concern€was€the€situation€of€particularly€disadvantaged€groups,€includingŠ u%Å $ Šindigenous€women,€migrant€women,€all€women€of€non„English€speaking€background€and€womenŠ ^&®!% Šwith€disabilities.€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women€were€the€most€disadvantaged€peopleŠ G'—"& Šin€Australia€society,€with€high€infant€mortality€rates,€low€life€expectancy,€high€unemploymentŠ 0(€#' Šfigures€and€high€incidence€of€domestic€violence€and€homicide.€The€Aboriginal€and€Torres€StraitŠ )i$( ŠIslander€Commission€(Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō)€had€been€established€as€the€premier€body€responsible€for€FederalŠ *R%) ŠGovernment€programmes.€The€Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō€board€members€were€elected€by€and€from€the€Aboriginal€andŠ ė*;&* ŠTorres€Strait€Islander€people.€The€Office€of€Indigenous€Women€within€Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō€coordinated€theŠ Ō+$'+ ŠWomenššs€Initiative€Programme.€A€national€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€ConsultativeŠ ½, (, ŠWomenššs€Council€was€being€considered.€A€comprehensive€womenššs€health€policy€was€inŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōpreparation.€The€representative€stated€that€further€programmes€would€be€developed€to€helpŠ ° ŠAboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€peoples€move€out€of€situations€of€dependence.€The€mostŠ ™é Šsignificant€development€was€the€introduction€on€24€December€1993,€of€the€Native€Title€Act,€whichŠ ‚Ņ Šwould€establish€tribunal€and€court€processes€for€determining€claims€to€native€title.Š k» ŠĢ376.€€The€representative€stated€that€Australia,€being€a€member€of€the€Commission€on€the€Status€ofŠ =  ŠWomen€during€the€period€leading€to€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women,€felt€responsibilityŠ & v Što€participate€actively€in€international€mechanisms€and€to€promote€the€equality€of€women,€inŠ  _ Špartnership€between€States,€as€reflected€also€in€the€international€development€work€of€the€country.Š ų H ŠAustralia€was€focusing€on€the€protection€of€womenššs€rights€within€the€mainstream€human€rightsŠ į 1  Šforums€to€avoid€marginalization€of€womenššs€human€rights.Š Ź   ŠĢņņGeneral€observationsóóŠ œģ  ŠĢ377.€€Members€of€the€Committee€acknowledged€the€quality€of€the€report,€which€complied€with€theŠ n¾  Šgeneral€guidelines.€A€great€deal€of€information€had€been€made€available€in€a€self„critical€manner.Š W§  ŠThey€thanked€the€representative€for€the€extensive€and€very€informative€replies€and€commended€theŠ @ ŠGovernment€of€Australia€for€the€specific€action€taken€to€improve€the€status€of€women€and€itsŠ )y Šcommitment€to€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.€Special€reference€was€made€to€theŠ b Šcontribution€of€Australia€to€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€and€its€efforts€to€treat€theŠ ūK Šhuman€rights€of€women€on€the€same€basis€as€all€human€rights.Š ä4 ŠĢ378.€€Members€especially€welcomed€the€fact€that€womenššs€unpaid€work€in€the€family€was€taken€intoŠ ¶ Šconsideration€and€integrated€into€the€national€accounts.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ379.€€Members€inquired€about€a€change€in€government€policy€with€regard€to€the€reservation€underŠ qĮ Šarticle€11,€paragraph€1€(c),€in€connection€with€combat€duties,€and€paragraph€2€(b),€on€maternityŠ ZŖ Šleave.€The€representative€replied€that€the€ban€on€women€serving€in€combat€roles€had€been€lifted,Š C“ Šwith€a€small€number€of€exclusions€related€to€violence.€Women€in€the€Australian€Defence€ForceŠ ,| Šcould€now€serve€in€the€navy,€army€and€air€force.€As€a€result€of€the€revised€employment€policy,Š e ŠAustralia€would€adjust€its€reservation€to€the€Convention.€With€regard€to€the€second€reservation,Š žN Šmaternity€leave€with€pay€was€provided€for€all€women€employed€by€the€Commonwealth€Government,Š ē 7 Šsubject€to€a€12„month€qualifying€period,€for€9€to€12€weeks€depending€on€the€State€or€Territory.Š Š!   ŠUnpaid€maternity€leave€had€become€available€to€Australian€women€employees€since€1979€and€hadŠ ¹" ! Šbeen€inserted€in€all€major€Federal€awards€and€the€majority€of€State€awards.€During€the€InternationalŠ ¢#ņ" ŠYear€of€the€Family,€paid€maternity€leave€would€become€one€of€the€major€issues€for€public€debate.Š ‹$Ū# ŠThe€Government€was€now€taking€steps€to€introduce€universal€parental€leave.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ380.€€Following€this€report€on€gradual€progress€achieved,€members€expressed€their€hope€that€theŠ F'–"& ŠGovernment€would€be€able€to€report€on€the€removal€of€the€reservations€in€the€next€periodic€report.Š /(#' ŠĢņņGeneral€questionsóóŠ *Q%) ŠĢ381.€€Acknowledging€Australiaššs€ambitious€programmes€to€raise€community€awareness€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šproblem€of€violence€against€women,€the€question€was€raised€whether€the€incidence€of€such€violenceŠ ¼, (, Šhad€decreased.€The€representative€replied€that€there€were€a€number€of€barriers€to€Ō_ŌcollectingŠ „-õ(- Šcomprehensive€data.€Much€violence€against€women€was€not€reported,€particularly€domesticŠ ° Šviolence.€However,€a€greater€community€awareness€of€the€criminality€of€violence€against€womenŠ ™é Šhas€brought€with€it€an€increase€in€reporting.€The€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women€would€establish€aŠ ‚Ņ Šnational€coordinated€data€collection€network€with€standardized€statistical€collection€methods.Š k» ŠĢ382.€€Asked€about€the€impact€of€programmes€to€eliminate€violence€in€the€Aboriginal€community,Š =  Šthe€representative€stated€that€a€national€family€violence€intervention€programme€was€beingŠ & v Šimplemented€by€Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō€using€a€community€development€approach.€A€national€menššs€conferenceŠ  _ Što€discuss€specific€issues€of€family€violence€was€held€in€1993.Š ų H ŠĢ383.€€Members€requested€information€on€section€37€of€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act€and€askedŠ Ź   Šwhether€that€legal€provision€was€applied€for€acts€in€conflict€with€Australian€legislation€or€with€theŠ ³  Šprovisions€of€the€Convention.€The€representative€replied€that€such€acts€were€only€exempt€by€forceŠ œģ  Šof€section€37€of€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act€but€were€not€exempt€from€criminal€sanctions€under€otherŠ …Õ  Šlegislation.€For€example,€genital€mutilation€would€be€treated€as€a€breach€of€State€assault€laws€andŠ n¾  Špolygamy€would€be€illegal€under€the€Marriage€Act.Š W§  ŠĢ384.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€positive€legislative€measures,€strategies€and€programmes€forŠ )y Šproviding€assistance€to€women€that€made€it€possible€to€have€official€legal€rights€on€an€equal€basisŠ b Šwith€men.€Asked€why€the€Government€still€had€not€provided€constitutional€guarantees€for€equalityŠ ūK Šof€the€sexes€which€would€enrich€the€basic€law€of€the€States,€the€representative€replied€that€it€wouldŠ ä4 Šrequire€a€constitutional€amendment€by€referendum€to€entrench€the€right€of€equality€of€the€sexes€inŠ Ķ Šthe€Australian€Constitution.€There€had€been€ongoing€debate€since€1988€on€which€rights€andŠ ¶ Šfreedoms€should€be€explicitly€guaranteed€in€Australian€law.€While€approaching€AustraliaššsŠ Ÿļ Šcentenary€of€federation€in€2001,€interests€in€constitutional€change€had€been€renewed,€and€aŠ ˆŲ Šconference€on€the€issue€of€women€and€the€Constitution€would€be€organized€in€1994.Š qĮ ŠĢņņQuestions€related€to€specific€articlesóóŠ C“ ŠĢņņArticles€1,€2€and€3óóŠ e ŠĢ385.€€The€Committee€asked€for€an€organizational€chart€to€better€understand€the€relationships€betweenŠ ē 7 Šthe€womenššs€organizations€that€were€noted€to€have€the€common€purpose€of€promoting€the€status€ofŠ Š!   Šwomen.€The€representative€replied€that€a€distinction€needed€to€be€drawn€between€GovernmentŠ ¹" ! Šadministrative€and€policy€bodies€and€advisory€bodies€to€the€Government.€The€Office€of€the€StatusŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€Women€was€a€Division€within€the€Federal€Governmentššs€Department€of€the€Prime€Minister€andŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCabinet.€The€National€Womenššs€Consultative€Council,€operating€with€federal€funds€and€servicedŠ t%Ä $ Šby€the€Office€was€a€means€of€communication€between€the€Government€and€the€members€of€nationalŠ ]&­!% Šwomenššs€organizations.€The€Australian€Council€of€Women€was€an€advisory€body€to€the€GovernmentŠ F'–"& Šon€key€issues€for€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women.€The€Federal€Government€set€up€theŠ /(#' ŠHuman€Rights€and€Equal€Opportunity€Commission€as€a€statutory€body€to€administer€four€acts,Š )h$( Šincluding€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act€1984.Š *Q%) ŠĢ386.€€On€the€question€whether€the€Minister€Assisting€the€Prime€Minister€for€the€Status€of€WomenŠ Ó+#'+ Šwas€a€Cabinet€member,€the€representative€replied€affirmatively€and€said€that€this€had€been€achievedŠ ¼, (, Šin€a€Ministerial€reshuffle€in€December€1993.Š „-õ(- ЇņņArticle€4óóŠ ° ŠĢ387.€€Members€requested€information€on€a€study€group€on€Aboriginal€women€and€its€authority€andŠ ‚Ņ Šresources€to€ensure€equality€for€indigenous€women.€The€representative€replied€that€she€was€unableŠ k» Što€ascertain€which€study€group€was€referred€to.€She€noted€that€the€office€of€Indigenous€WomenŠ T¤ Šwithin€Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō€was€the€body€responsible€for€Federal€Government€programmes€for€Aboriginal€andŠ =  ŠTorres€Strait€Islander€women.€Since€1992,€annual€national€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€IslanderŠ & v Šwomenššs€conferences€had€been€held€to€enable€representatives€of€indigenous€women€to€identifyŠ  _ Šimportant€issues€and€provide€advice€to€Ō_ŌATSICŌ_Ō.Š ų H ŠĢ388.€€Asked€what€her€Government€had€done€to€increase€the€status€of€Aboriginal€and€Torres€StraitŠ Ź   ŠIslander€women€and€whether€they€would€be€treated€on€equal€terms€if€land€was€returned€to€theŠ ³  Šindigenous€population,€the€representative€confirmed€that€the€high€court€decision€in€ņņŌ_ŌMaboŌ_Ō€and€OthersŠ œģ  Šv.€the€State€of€Queenslandóó€was€the€most€significant€judicial€act€that€paved€the€way€for€the€NativeŠ …Õ  ŠTitle€Act€1993,€which€represented€a€political€shift€in€the€treatment€of€indigenous€Australians,Š n¾  Šalthough€its€full€impact€could€not€yet€be€grasped€fully.€An€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€IslanderŠ W§  ŠSocial€Justice€Commissioner€had€been€appointed€to€monitor€and€assess€the€human€rights€of€theŠ @ ŠAboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€peoples,€in€particular€women.€Womenššs€equal€rights€shouldŠ )y Šbe€a€major€concern€when€it€came€to€redistribution€of€land.€She€agreed€that€many€services€providedŠ b Šfor€indigenous€women€in€the€past€had€failed€because€traditional€values€had€not€been€taken€intoŠ ūK Šaccount€in€the€design€and€implementation€of€programmes,€but€efforts€were€being€made€to€remedyŠ ä4 Šthat€situation,€in€particular€in€the€health€sector.Š Ķ ŠĢņņArticle€5óóŠ Ÿļ ŠĢ389.€€Having€been€informed€that€maternity€leave€was€widespread€in€the€public€sector,€the€CommitteeŠ qĮ Šwanted€to€know€what€action€had€been€taken€to€enable€women€to€continue€work€in€the€private€sector,Š ZŖ Šwhere€most€left€their€jobs€after€giving€birth.€The€representative€made€clear€that€the€inclusion€ofŠ C“ Šmaternity,€adoption€and€parental€leave€in€federal€awards€had€been€supported€by€the€Government.Š ,| ŠAsked€whether€legislation€relating€to€paternity€leave€was€being€considered,€she€reported€thatŠ e Šsignificant€progress€had€been€made€on€that€issue,€since€industrial€relations€legislation€guaranteedŠ žN Š12€months€unpaid€parental€leaves,€which€could€be€shared€between€men€and€women.Š ē 7 ŠĢ390.€€The€Committee€had€difficulty€in€fully€understanding€the€reservation€on€maternity€leave.€TheŠ ¹" ! Šrepresentative€said€that€there€was€considerable€discussion€going€on€in€her€country€on€the€issue.Š ¢#ņ" ŠWomenššs€participation€in€wage€labour€had€increased€significantly€in€the€last€15€years.€The€resistanceŠ ‹$Ū# Što€paid€maternity€leave€came€from€many€sides;€there€was€no€consensus€on€the€issue€even€amongŠ t%Ä $ Šwomenššs€organizations€and€trade€unions.€The€universal€social€security€system€existing€in€the€countryŠ ]&­!% Šcushioned€cuts€in€income€levels€and€was€an€incentive€for€part„time€work.€€Moreover,€there€had€beenŠ F'–"& Šno€strong€pressure€or€demand€for€facilities€to€feed€babies€in€the€workplace.Š /(#' ŠĢ391.€€Commenting€on€violence€against€women,€the€experts€asked€how€many€women€had€takenŠ *Q%) Šrefuge€in€shelters.€The€representative€said€that€a€national€census€on€a€single€night€in€May€1992€hadŠ ź*:&* Šfound€4,700€adults€and€children€using€the€Support€Accommodation€Assistance€Program€(Ō_ŌSAAPŌ_Ō)€asŠ Ó+#'+ Ša€result€of€family€violence.€Eighty„five€per€cent€of€women€applied€for€Government€benefits€orŠ ¼, (, Špensions€after€taking€refuge.€An€accurate€figure€on€women€obtaining€protection€orders€could€not€beŠ „-õ(- Šgiven€owing€to€a€lack€of€consistency€in€data€collection€by€the€States€and€Territories.€In€1991,€thereŠ ° Šwere€603€applications€for€Domestic€Violence€Orders€in€the€Australian€Capital€Territory,€90€per€centŠ ™é Šmade€by€women€against€men.€Asked€how€womenššs€organizations€helped€victims€of€rape€withinŠ ‚Ņ Šmarriage€and€of€domestic€violence,€the€representative€said€that€rape€crisis€centres,€domestic€violenceŠ k» Šcrisis€services€and€womenššs€health€centres€provided€information€on€legal,€health,€financial€and€crisisŠ T¤ Šaccommodation€matters€and€referred€women€to€appropriate€services.Š =  ŠĢ392.€€The€Committee€wanted€to€know€how€the€Government€viewed€the€problem€of€violence€againstŠ  _ Šwomen€and€if€any€attempts€were€being€made€to€solve€it.€The€representative€stressed€that€theŠ ų H Šcommitment€of€the€Government€was€evidenced€by€its€considerable€support€to€women€and€childrenŠ į 1  Švictims€of€violence€and€its€efforts€to€change€the€law€and€behaviour€of€perpetrators.€The€NewŠ Ź   ŠNational€Agenda€defined€strategies€to€eliminate€violence€against€women€which€included€furtherŠ ³  Šlegislative€reform.€The€Government€provided€considerable€funding€for€various€measures€to€eliminateŠ œģ  Šviolence,€in€particular€for€community€education€campaigns,€the€provision€of€shelter€and€incomeŠ …Õ  Šsupport€to€women€escaping€violence.€An€emphasis€was€put€on€the€role€of€men€in€all€aspects€ofŠ n¾  Šviolence€and€the€re„education€of€aggressors.€A€clear€message€was€being€sent€out€that€violence€wasŠ W§  Šnot€acceptable€behaviour.Š @ ŠĢ393.€€Replying€to€a€question€on€the€legal€concept€of€the€family€in€Australian€society€and€measuresŠ b Štaken€to€strengthen€it,€the€representative€first€stated€that€the€family,€as€an€entity,€had€no€legal€statusŠ ūK Šor€legally€enforceable€rights€or€duties.€The€Family€Law€Act€concerned€itself€with€the€rights,€dutiesŠ ä4 Šand€responsibilities€of€the€individuals€who€belonged€to€families€of€particular€kinds.€The€lawŠ Ķ Šimplicitly€recognized€the€existence€of€certain€kinds€of€family.€Australiaššs€federal€system€did€notŠ ¶ Šprovide€a€comprehensive€code€for€family€relationships,€but€recognized€peopleššs€responsibilities€forŠ Ÿļ Štheir€relationships.€In€order€to€promote€greater€support,€harmony€and€quality€of€life€for€all€families,Š ˆŲ Šthe€Government€had€introduced€a€package€of€family€payments.€Efforts€has€been€made€to€provideŠ qĮ Šquality€child€care.Š ZŖ ŠĢņņArticle€7óóŠ ,| ŠĢ394.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€regret€that€the€report€lacked€an€analysis€of€theŠ žN Šobstacles€to€the€achievement€of€equality€for€women€in€positions€of€political€leadership,€and€askedŠ ē 7 Šfor€more€information€on€the€reasons€for€the€disparity€in€figures€between€different€institutions.€TheŠ Š!   Šrepresentative€explained€that€women€tended€to€be€particularly€under€represented€in€high„level€postsŠ ¹" ! Šin€science€and€technology€owing€to€entrenched€values€regarding€womenššs€entry€into€non„traditionalŠ ¢#ņ" Šareas.€Her€Government€targeted€women€in€public€life€as€one€of€three€priorities€for€improving€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šstatus€of€women€and,€therefore,€was€committed€to€50€per€cent€representation€of€women€onŠ t%Ä $ ŠGovernment€boards€by€the€year€2001.€A€register€of€women€and€a€monitoring€system€had€beenŠ ]&­!% Šestablished.€Womenššs€under€representation€in€public€life€resulted€from€entrenched€social€attitudes,Š F'–"& Šparliamentary€practices€which€conflicted€with€family€responsibilities,€lack€of€women€in€leadershipŠ /(#' Špositions€and€factionalism€in€the€pre„selection€processes€in€major€political€parties.Š )h$( ŠĢ395.€€In€reply€to€a€question€on€the€level€of€womenššs€representation€in€local€and€national€government,Š ź*:&* Šthe€representative€said€that€there€were€a€higher€levels€of€female€participation€in€local€governmentsŠ Ó+#'+ Šand€relatively€low€levels€in€national€government.€This€might€be€due€to€the€structure€of€majorŠ ¼, (, Špolitical€parties€in€Australia€and€their€dominance€by€men.€Large€distances€inside€the€country€wereŠ „-õ(- Šanother€obstacle€to€womenššs€involvement€in€leading€positions,€since€many€women€were€not€preparedŠ ° Što€move€to€the€Federal€centre€of€government.€She€also€noted€that€the€Commonwealth€State€MinistersŠ ™é Šon€the€Status€of€Women€were€undertaking€research€on€the€issue.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢņņArticle€10óóŠ T¤ ŠĢ396.€€In€reply€to€a€question€on€action€to€raise€female€enrolment€at€the€university€level,€theŠ & v Šrepresentative€recalled€that€the€number€of€women€in€higher€education€had€grown€steadily,€reachingŠ  _ Šmore€than€50€per€cent.€More€women€than€men€had€enrolled€since€1987.€However,€women€were€stillŠ ų H Šunder€represented€in€certain€of€study,€and€concentrated€in€arts,€humanities,€social€sciences€andŠ į 1  Šeducation.€The€Government€had€published€a€plan€for€equity€in€higher€education€entitled€š šA€FairŠ Ź   ŠChance€for€Allšš,€which€set€the€goal€of€increasing€womenššs€share€of€engineering€enrolments€to€15Š ³  Šper€cent€and€in€other€non„traditional€courses€to€40€per€cent€by€1995.Š œģ  ŠĢ397.€€Members€of€the€Committee€requested€further€information€on€the€education€of€AboriginalŠ n¾  Šwomen,€their€enrolment€at€university€and€their€entry€into€the€professions.€The€representative€repliedŠ W§  Šthat€the€enrolment€of€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women€in€higher€education€had€increasedŠ @ Šby€192€per€cent€in€the€past€five€years,€with€women€now€representing€61€per€cent€of€the€total€numberŠ )y Šof€students.€The€rate€of€completion€of€courses€remained€of€concern,€although€no€detailed€figuresŠ b Šwere€available.Š ūK ŠĢņņArticle€11óóŠ Ķ ŠĢ398.€€The€Committee€was€interested€in€the€outcome€of€an€initiative€to€review€the€restructuring€ofŠ Ÿļ Šearnings.€The€representative€confirmed€her€Governmentššs€strong€support€of€a€continued€review€ofŠ ˆŲ Šaward€wage€relativities€based€on€comparisons€of€skills€and€responsibilities.€The€ratio€of€female€toŠ qĮ Šmale€average€weekly€ordinary€time€earnings€for€a€full„time€adult€was€83.2€per€cent€in€1992.€AŠ ZŖ Šsurvey€on€workplace€bargaining€found€that€more€male€employees€benefited€from€workplace„Š C“ Šnegotiated€wage€agreements.€Reforms€to€the€Industrial€Relations€Acts€1988€were€undertaken€inŠ ,| Šconsultation€with€womenššs€organizations€to€ensure€that€the€industrial€reforms€would€protectŠ e Šwomenššs€interests.€Certified€agreements€would€continue€to€exist€between€employees,€unions€andŠ žN Šemployers,€but€flexible€agreements€might€be€made€directly€between€employers€and€employees.Š ē 7 ŠAgreements€were€required€to€ensure€š šno€disadvantagešš€in€the€terms€and€conditions€of€employmentŠ Š!   Šfor€the€employees.€To€that€end,€a€number€of€additional€safeguards€had€been€included.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ399.€€Asked€whether€the€authorities€planned€to€propose€legislation€to€ensure€equal€remuneration€forŠ ‹$Ū# Šwork€of€equal€value€with€a€view€to€raising€womenššs€incomes,€the€representative€stated€that€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠGovernment€had€ensures€that€provision€under€the€Industrial€Relations€Reform€Act€1993.€EffortsŠ ]&­!% Šwere€made€to€remove€discriminatory€elements€in€wage„fixing€arrangements.Š F'–"& ŠĢ400.€€In€view€of€the€fact€that€the€majority€of€women€in€Australia€were€working€part€time€andŠ )h$( Šassuming€all€family€obligations,€members€took€note€of€their€economic€disadvantage€and€inherentŠ *Q%) Šobstacles€for€career€advancement€and€participation€in€public€activities.€Further€clarification€on€theŠ ź*:&* Šstatus€of€part„time€workers,€particularly€their€pension€and€social€security€rights,€was€needed.€TheŠ Ó+#'+ Šrepresentative€confirmed€that€Australia€had€seen€an€increase€of€female€part„time€employment€by€60Š ¼, (, Šper€cent€compared€to€a€growth€in€female€full€time€employment€of€approximately€25€per€cent.€Part„Š „-õ(- Štime€workers€tended€to€be€employed€more€frequently€on€a€casual€basis€than€on€a€permanent€part„timeŠ ° Šbasis,€which€would€give€them€continuity€of€employment€and€the€possibility,€generally,€of€accruingŠ ™é Šbenefits.€The€Government€welcomed€the€extension€of€permanent€part„time€employment€andŠ ‚Ņ Šindicated€that€casual€work€should€generally€be€restricted€to€short„term,€irregular€or€seasonal€work.Š k» ŠThe€representative€gave€detailed€information€on€pension€and€social€security€rights€of€part„timeŠ T¤ Šworkers,€in€particular€unemployment€payments,€job€research€and€Ō_ŌnewstartŌ_Ō€allowances,€familyŠ =  Špayments,€pension€payments€and€superannuation€which€would€significantly€increase€coverage€ofŠ & v Špart„time€and€casual€employees.€Asked€what€was€considered€part„time€work,€the€representative€saidŠ  _ Šthat€it€was€employment€of€less€than€30€hours€a€week.Š ų H ŠĢ401.€€The€Committee€noted€that€44€per€cent€of€working€mothers€had€children€under€4€years€of€age,Š Ź   Š60€per€cent€had€children€under€14€years€of€age€and€49€per€cent€were€single€mothers.€They€askedŠ ³  Šwhether€the€1989„1991€programme€for€the€refurbishment€and€construction€of€centres€had€solved€theŠ œģ  Šproblem€of€child€care.€The€representative€stated€that€the€Government€had€implemented€growthŠ …Õ  Šstrategies€to€expand€the€number€of€funded€child„care€places,€so€that€74€per€cent€of€the€demand€forŠ n¾  Šformal€work„related€care€for€children€below€school€age€and€51€per€cent€for€school„age€children€wasŠ W§  Šmet€in€1992„1993.Š @ ŠĢ402.€€Asked€about€womenššs€employment€in€mines,€the€representative€replied€that€there€wasŠ b Šresistance€from€the€trade€unions€to€allowing€women€to€go€underground€and€to€enter€an€exclusivelyŠ ūK Šmale€dominated€profession.Š ä4 ŠĢņņArticle€12óóŠ ¶ ŠĢ403.€€Asked€whether€the€nationally€organized€cervical€screening€programme€had€been€implemented,Š ˆŲ Šthe€representative€confirmed€that€all€Health€Ministers€had€adopted€an€organized€approach€toŠ qĮ Šdetection€and€management€of€cervical€pre„cancers€that€included€a€national€cervical€screening€policyŠ ZŖ Šbased€on€a€two„year€interval,€an€age€range€of€18€to€70€years€and€the€establishment€of€cervicalŠ C“ Šcytology€registries.€In€addition,€a€television€campaign€to€raise€awareness€among€women€on€the€needŠ ,| Šfor€regular€testing€had€been€launched€in€1993.€Š e ŠĢ404.€On€a€question€related€to€family€planning€and€freely€available€contraceptive€advice€for€youngŠ ē 7 Šwomen€without€parental€consent,€the€representative€said€that€young€women€had€free€access€to€adviceŠ Š!   Šon€sexual€and€reproductive€health€in€clinics€funded€under€the€Family€Planning€Programme.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ405.€€The€Committee€wanted€to€know€if€abortion€was€available€to€young€women€on€the€same€basisŠ ‹$Ū# Šas€adult€women.€The€answer€was€that€although€equal€service€was€ensured€in€theory,€pregnant€minorŠ t%Ä $ Šwomen€were€disadvantaged€in€their€access€to€abortion€services,€since€they€did€not€have€their€ownŠ ]&­!% ŠMedicare€card€and€lacked€support€and€money€for€transportation€and€consultation€of€specialists.Š F'–"& ŠĢ406.€€The€Committee€asked€whether€the€Government€planned€to€harmonize€its€family„planning,Š )h$( Šcontraception€and€abortion€policies.€The€representative€stated€that€abortion€laws€were€theŠ *Q%) Šresponsibility€of€State€and€Territory€governments,€whereas€the€Family€Planning€Programme€was€aŠ ź*:&* ŠCommonwealth€initiative.€A€harmonization€took€place€in€the€sense€that€the€Family€PlanningŠ Ó+#'+ ŠProgramme€was€a€means€to€prevent€unwanted€pregnancies€and€reduce€demand€for€abortions.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š407.€€On€a€question€about€the€decrease€of€maternal€and€child€mortality€rates€among€the€AboriginalŠ ° Špopulation,€the€representative€stressed€that€the€health€of€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€IslanderŠ ™é Špeoples€had€significantly€improved€in€the€past€two€decades.€However,€the€burdens€of€diseaseŠ ‚Ņ Šcontinued€to€be€comparatively€high€as€did€levels€of€child€mortality.€The€proportion€of€maternalŠ k» Šdeaths€had€not€decreased€yet.€There€was€a€great€need€for€an€indigenous€womenššs€health€policy€toŠ T¤ Šcomplement€the€National€Aboriginal€Health€Strategy,€the€major€initiative€in€Aboriginal€and€TorresŠ =  ŠStrait€Islander€health.€Asked€about€legal€or€social€barriers€to€artificial€insemination€and€the€publicššsŠ & v Šresponse,€in€particular€womenššs€response€to€that€process,€the€representative€replied€that€the€directŠ  _ Šregulation€of€artificial€insemination€was€a€matter€for€State€and€Territory€governments.€TheŠ ų H ŠCommonwealth€Government€subsidized€artificial€insemination€through€the€national€health€insuranceŠ į 1  Šscheme.€There€was€evidence€that€the€majority€of€the€population€accepted€artificial€insemination€asŠ Ź   Špart€of€wider€reproductive€technologies€but€was€concerned€about€the€confidentiality€of€information,Š ³  Šethnic€cultural€values€and€the€rights€of€the€child.€Women€were€particularly€concerned€about€the€costŠ œģ  Šand€emotional€stress€involved.Š …Õ  ŠĢņņArticle€15óóŠ W§  ŠĢ408.€€The€Committee€commented€on€a€recent€controversy€about€gender€bias€in€the€courts€that€hadŠ )y Šresulted€in€a€referral€to€the€Australian€Law€Reform€Commission.€It€asked€whether€the€GovernmentŠ b Šwould€introduce€legislation€or€encourage€law€societies€and€the€judiciary€to€adopt€and€implement€theŠ ūK Šfinal€recommendation€of€the€Commission.€The€representative€stated€that€her€Government€had€takenŠ ä4 Šaction€to€address€the€issue€of€gender€bias€in€the€legal€system.€The€Attorney„General€hadŠ Ķ Šacknowledged€that€the€process€of€judicial€appointments€should€comprise€suitably€qualified€womenŠ ¶ Šas€well€as€other€under€represented€groups.€The€Federal€Government€recognized€the€importance€ofŠ Ÿļ Šjudicial€education.€Gender€bias€awareness€programmes€for€magistrates€and€judges€had€beenŠ ˆŲ Šdeveloped.Š qĮ ŠĢņņArticle€16óóŠ C“ ŠĢ409.€€The€Committee€wanted€to€know€how€the€Government€intended€to€enact€and€enforce€legislationŠ e Šdesigned€to€comply€with€the€Convention€and€to€protect€women€if€marriages€contracted€accordingŠ žN Što€customary€law€conflicted€with€the€Convention.€The€representative€said€that€Aboriginal€customaryŠ ē 7 Šmarriages€did€not€comply€with€the€provision€of€the€Marriage€Act€1961€and€therefore€were€notŠ Š!   Šrecognized€as€valid€marriages,€but€could€be€accepted€as€de€facto€heterosexual€relationships€in€someŠ ¹" ! ŠState€jurisdictions.€The€Australian€Law€Reform€Commission€recommended€that€AboriginalŠ ¢#ņ" Šcustomary€marriages€should€be€recognized€for€specific€purposes,€such€as€social€security€law,€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šfor€giving€legitimate€status€to€the€children€of€such€marriages.€There€were€no€plans€to€legislate€withŠ t%Ä $ Šrespect€to€Aboriginal€customary€marriage.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ410.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€Australian€Law€Reform€Commission€had€made€certainŠ /(#' Šrecommendations€concerning€marriage€practices,€such€as€polygamous€marriages,€which€mightŠ )h$( Šcomply€with€religious€or€customary€law€but€be€in€conflict€with€the€principles€of€the€Convention.Š *Q%) ŠAsked€whether€there€were€plans€to€legislate€and€enforce€domestic€law€which€would€protect€womenŠ ź*:&* Šfrom€traditions€that€endangered€their€health€and€caused€them€and€their€children€hardship,€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šrepresentative€stated€that€marriage,€according€to€the€law€in€Australia,€was€the€union€of€man€andŠ ¼, (, Šwoman€voluntarily€entered€into€for€life€and€a€contract€of€valid€polygamous€marriage€was€notŠ „-õ(- Špossible€according€to€the€law.€A€de€facto€polygamous€marriage€contracted€outside€Australia€wouldŠ ° Šbe€recognized€only€if€valid€according€to€the€common€law€rules€of€private€international€law.€AnyŠ ™é Šreligious€or€customary€marriage€which€did€not€comply€with€the€Marriage€Actššs€provisions€was€notŠ ‚Ņ Švalid.Š k» ŠĢ411.€€On€a€question€with€regard€to€de€facto€relationships€and€the€legal€action€taken€to€solve€theŠ =  Šproblem€of€custody€and€guardianship€of€children,€inheritance,€maintenance€and€allocation€ofŠ & v Šhousehold€property,€the€representative€said€that€the€effect€of€a€de€facto€relationship€was€governedŠ  _ Šby€State€and€Territory€legislatures€and€courts,€except€in€relation€to€children€of€such€relationships.Š ų H ŠJurisdiction€therefore€varied€on€the€issue€of€share€in€the€intestate€estate€of€a€deceased€de€factoŠ į 1  Špartner.€Guardianship,€custody€and€maintenance€of€children€was€a€matter€for€the€Family€Court€orŠ Ź   Šthe€Federal€Child€Support€Agency.Š ³  ŠĢ412.€€The€Committee€deferred€its€concluding€comments€on€the€report€of€Australia€until€its€fourteenthŠ …Õ  Šsession.ņņŠ  n¾  ŠóóŌUSUK.,Ōņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€€A/50/38€(1995)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ593.€€The€Committee€emphasizes€that€the€Convention€has€been€recognized€as€one€of€the€basic€humanŠ l¼ Šrights€instruments.€The€Government€of€Australia€at€the€national€level€and€at€the€international€levelŠ U„ Šhas€made€significant€efforts€to€put€women's€rights€into€the€agenda€at€the€International€Human€RightsŠ > Ž ŠConference€at€Vienna,€1993,€the€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women,€the€Commission€on€HumanŠ ' w ŠRights€and€the€General€Assembly.Š  ` ŠĢ594.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€notes€with€approval€that€the€Government€has€adopted€the€newŠ ā 2  ŠNational€Agenda€for€Women€in€1993.€This€is€the€second€plan€of€action€concerning€activities€that€theŠ Ė   ŠGovernment€adopted€in€order€to€improve€the€status€of€women.Š “  ŠĢ595.€€At€the€legal€level,€there€hardly€exists€any€longer€any€discrimination€on€the€basis€of€sex.Š †Ö  ŠFollowing€an€evaluation€of€legislation,€several€legislative€amendments€have€been€made.Š oæ  ŠĢ596.€€The€Committee,€however,€expresses€its€concern€about€reservations€which€the€GovernmentŠ A‘ Šmade€when€ratifying€the€Convention.€Although€there€have€been€some€developments€in€this€area,€theŠ *z ŠCommittee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€reservations€on€paid€maternity€leave.€The€CommitteeŠ c Šurges€the€Government€to€continue€its€efforts€to€withdraw€its€reservations.Š üL ŠĢ597.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€indigenous€women,€migrant€women€andŠ Ī Šparticularly€women€from€aboriginal€groups€and€Torres€Strait€Island€who€are€the€most€disadvantagedŠ · Špeople€in€Australian€society.€The€Government€has€been€frank€in€its€information€to€the€CommitteeŠ  š Šabout€these€women.€However,€the€status€of€these€women€is€significantly€different€from€other€womenŠ ‰Ł Šliving€in€Australia.€Violence,€life€expectancy,€unemployment€and€the€health€situation€amongŠ rĀ Šaboriginal€women€are€remaining€problems.Š [« ŠĢ598.€€The€Committee€urges€that€in€the€next€report€the€Government€provide€more€specific€dataŠ -} Šconcerning€aboriginal€women€and€about€remaining€obstacles€that€impede€their€progress€to€fullŠ f Šequality.Š ’O ŠĢ599.€€The€Committee€also€asks€for€information€about€improvements€for€the€aboriginal€women€afterŠ Ń!!  Šthe€court€decision€ņņŌ_ŌMaboŌ_Ō€and€Others€v.€The€State€of€Queenslandóó.€Will€that€decision€permit€aboriginalŠ ŗ" ! Šwomen€to€receive€redistributed€land€on€an€equal€basis€with€aboriginal€men?Š £#ó" ŠĢ600.€€The€Committee€also€expresses€its€concern€about€the€Government's€policy€to€encourageŠ u%Å $ Špart-time€work€among€women.€Women€need€access€to€full-time€work€to€achieve€independent€statusŠ ^&®!% Šand€to€improve€their€economic€situation.Š G'—"& ŠĢ601.€€Finally,€the€Committee€encourages€the€Government€to€adopt€new€temporary€measures€in€orderŠ )i$( Što€increase€women's€participation€in€politics€at€the€state€and€federal€levels.Š  *R%) ŠŌUK.,US.,ģŌņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€€A/52/38/Rev.1€Ō_Ō(1997)Ō_ŌŠ ° Šó óą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąĢ365.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€Australia€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/Ō_ŌAULŌ_Ō/3)€at€itsŠ ƒÓ Š352nd€and€353rd€meetings,€on€18€July€1997€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.352€and€353).Š l¼ ŠĢ366.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€Assistant€Secretary,€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women,Š > Ž ŠDepartment€of€the€Prime€Minister€and€Cabinet.€She€explained€that€the€report€before€the€CommitteeŠ ' w Šhad€been€prepared€in€1993€as€a€supplementary€report€to€Australiaššs€second€periodic€report€and€hadŠ  ` Šbeen€submitted€to€the€Secretariat€as€Australiaššs€third€periodic€report€in€1994.€€In€stressing€herŠ ł I ŠGovernmentššs€commitment€to€its€treaty€obligations,€she€regretted€its€inability€to€prepare€a€formalŠ ā 2  Šsupplementary€report€for€consideration€by€the€Committee€at€the€current€stage,€but€noted€thatŠ Ė   ŠAustralia€had€produced€an€implementation€plan€for€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€which€wasŠ “  Šavailable€to€the€Committee€for€information.€€The€detailed€answers€to€the€questions€on€notice€wouldŠ ķ  Šprovide€the€Committee€with€an€up„to„date€picture€of€the€status€of€women€in€Australia.€€Noting€theŠ †Ö  Šhigh€standards€of€Australiaššs€past€reports€as€well€as€past€practice,€she€regretted€that€the€presentŠ oæ  Šreport€had€not€benefited€from€the€involvement€of€non„governmental€organizations.€€She€indicatedŠ XØ  Šher€Governmentššs€intention€to€combine€the€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€reports€for€the€CommitteeššsŠ A‘ Šconsideration€at€the€beginning€of€the€next€century.Š *z ŠĢ367.€€In€her€introductory€statement,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€noted€that€a€robustŠ üL Šframework€of€anti„discrimination€legislation,€positive€measures,€strategies€and€programmes€had€beenŠ å5 Šput€in€place€since€ratification€of€the€Convention€in€1983.€Government„funded€services€for€women,Š Ī Šspecialized€governmental€machinery,€and€attention€to€womenššs€health,€educational€curricula,Š · Šviolence€against€women,€employment€and€womenššs€participation€in€public€life€had€resulted€in€aŠ  š Šrecord€of€achievement€which€was€significant€by€world€standards.€€At€the€same€time,€the€GovernmentŠ ‰Ł Šwas€aware€of€the€need€to€address€a€number€of€specific€areas€where€equality€for€women€remained€toŠ rĀ Šbe€achieved.Š [« ŠĢ368.€€As€to€the€reservations€Australia€had€entered€to€the€Convention,€the€representative€noted€thatŠ -} Šwhile€significant€progress€had€been€made€towards€the€provision€of€comprehensive€maternity€leave,Š f Šthe€Government€was€not€in€a€position€to€remove€the€reservation€regarding€paid€maternity€leave.€OnŠ ’O Šthe€other€hand,€a€modification€of€the€reservation€regarding€"combat„related"€employment€in€theŠ č 8 Šarmed€forces€was€being€considered.Š Ń!!  ŠĢ369.€€The€change€in€Federal€Government€following€the€March€1996€elections€had€brought€a€freshŠ £#ó" Šapproach.€In€a€strengthening€of€gender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō€policy,€responsibility€for€gender€issues,€whichŠ Œ$Ü# Šhad€been€concentrated€in€the€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women,€had€now€been€extended€to€all€areas€ofŠ u%Å $ Šthe€Commonwealth€bureaucracy.€€Specialist€units€in€line€departments€had€responsibility€forŠ ^&®!% Šenhancing€linkages€and€cooperation,€including€cooperation€with€womenššs€organizations.€€A€tightŠ G'—"& Šfiscal€environment€where€tax€increases€or€budget€deficits€were€not€considered€to€be€means€forŠ 0(€#' Šcovering€shortfalls€had€led€to€difficult€choices,€but€she€emphasized€the€Governmentššs€commitmentŠ )i$( Što€expanding€opportunity€and€choice€for€all.Š *R%) ŠĢ370.€€While€major€advances€had€been€achieved€in€the€area€of€domestic€violence€over€the€last€20Š Ō+$'+ Šyears,€it€remained€a€significant€area€of€concern,€requiring€a€more€comprehensive€approach€toŠ ½, (, Šprevention€and€response.€A€National€Campaign€against€Violence€and€Crime€would€address,€interŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōalia,€domestic€violence.€A€recent€programme€had€assisted€in€decreasing€the€incidence€of€familyŠ ° Šviolence€in€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€communities.€The€portrayal€of€violence€in€theŠ ™é Šmedia€was€also€receiving€attention.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ371.€€Australia€was€one€of€the€few€countries€with€a€national€womenššs€health€policy,€and€new€effortsŠ T¤ Šwere€under€way€better€to€understand€womenššs€specific€health€needs.€€Programmes€and€services€wereŠ =  Šimplemented€to€improve€the€health€of€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women,€includingŠ & v Šresource€allocation.€In€order€to€address€immigrant€womenššs€and€girlsšš€risk€of€genital€mutilation,Š  _ Šlegislation€to€ban€the€practice€had€been€introduced€in€most€Australian€states€and€territories,€andŠ ų H Šprogrammes€to€prevent€it€had€been€developed.Š į 1  ŠĢ372.€€New€temporary€measures€had€been€introduced€to€increase€womenššs€participation€in€politicsŠ ³  Šat€the€state€and€federal€level.€€Rather€than€relying€on€quotas,€the€Government€had€chosen€otherŠ œģ  Šmeans,€such€as€mentoring€and€executive€searches,€to€increase€the€number€of€women€in€politics.€€TheŠ …Õ  ŠlastŠ n¾  Šfederal€elections€had€seen€a€significant€increase€in€the€number€of€women€parliamentarians.€€ThereŠ W§  Šhad€been€an€increase€in€the€percentage€of€women€in€the€Cabinet,€in€state€and€local€government€andŠ @ Šin€political€parties.Š )y ŠĢ373.€€Womenššs€representation€in€decision„making€and€management€in€the€private€sector€wasŠ ūK Šincreasing€slowly.€€The€Affirmative€Action€Agencyššs€awards€to€recognize€worthwhile€employersššŠ ä4 Šinitiatives,€as€well€as€other€measures,€such€as€education€strategies€and€the€waiving€of€annualŠ Ķ Šreporting€requirements€for€organizations€having€implemented€high„quality€affirmative€actionŠ ¶ Šprogrammes€over€three„year€periods,€were€among€the€strategies€used.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ374.€€The€Government€was€committed€to€greater€participation€of€women€in€the€paid€labour€marketŠ qĮ Šthrough€the€promotion€of€greater€flexibility€in€the€workplace,€continuing€support€for€childcare€andŠ ZŖ Ša€broadening€of€options€in€employment€and€training.€€Womenššs€participation€in€the€labour€force€hadŠ C“ Šgrown€by€30€per€cent€in€the€past€10€years,€almost€double€the€increase€for€men.Š ,| ŠĢ375.€The€new€legislative€basis€for€industrial€relations,€adopted€in€1996,€included€provisions€forŠ žN Šparental€leave€and€the€prohibition€of€employment€termination€for€reasons€of,€inter€alia,€familyŠ ē 7 Šresponsibilities.€€Other€provisions€expected€to€benefit€women€in€particular€were€the€removal€ofŠ Š!   Šrestrictions€on€regular€part„time€work€and€the€capacity€to€formalize€individual€workplaceŠ ¹" ! Šagreements.€€An€Office€of€the€Employee€Advocate€had€been€established€to€provide€advice€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šassistance€in€that€regard.€€She€noted€that€wage€gaps€between€men€and€women€remained,€and€that€aŠ ‹$Ū# Šcomprehensive€income€security€safety€net€was€available€which€benefited€women€to€a€greater€extentŠ t%Ä $ Šthan€men.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ376.€€In€addressing€disadvantages€experienced€by€indigenous€populations,€the€Government€wasŠ /(#' Šcommitted€to€reconciliation€between€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islanders€and€the€larger€AustralianŠ )h$( Šcommunity.€€Indigenous€women€were€playing€an€active€role€in€those€efforts.Š *Q%) ŠĢ377.€€She€noted€that€the€High€Court€Mabo€(No.€2)€decision€of€1992,€which€had€overturned€the€terraŠ Ó+#'+ Šnullius€doctrine€and€recognized€the€existence€of€native€title,€did€not€refer€to€gender€as€affecting€theŠ ¼, (, Šrecognition€of€native€title.Š „-õ(- Ї378.€€To€ensure€better€options€for€indigenous€women,€recommendations€contained€in€a€reportŠ ° Šsubmitted€to€Parliament€in€May€1997€were€being€considered€by€the€Government.€A€number€of€newŠ ™é Šinitiatives,€including€the€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islanders€"Healthy€Women€„€Strong€Families"Š ‚Ņ Šinitiative€which€had€been€announced€at€the€Beijing€Conference,€were€aimed€at€improving€the€healthŠ k» Šstatus€of€that€group€of€women.Š T¤ ŠĢ379.€€The€representative€concluded€by€saying€that€the€Government€of€Australia€believed€that€far„Š & v Šreaching€cultural€and€economic€changes€required€the€support€and€acceptance€of€the€community.€€SheŠ  _ Špledged€Australiaššs€determination€to€build€on€its€existing€achievements€so€as€to€ensure€that€womenŠ ų H Šparticipated€fully€in€all€aspects€of€life€so€that€their€families,€their€communities€and€Australia€wouldŠ į 1  Šprosper.Š Ź   ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ œģ  ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ n¾  ŠĢ380.€€The€Committee€commended€the€Government€for€its€past€initiatives€and€efforts€to€promote€andŠ @ Šprotect€the€human€rights€of€women€nationally€and€internationally.€€Australiaššs€leadership€for€theŠ )y Šadvancement€of€women€at€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women€and€its€initiative€to€make€it€intoŠ b Ša€"conference€of€commitment"€were€particularly€noteworthy.€€The€Committee€took€note€of€the€factŠ ūK Šthat€Australia€had€prepared€a€comprehensive€national€action€plan€to€implement€the€BeijingŠ ä4 ŠDeclaration€and€Platform€for€Action€and€provided€a€copy€to€each€member€of€the€Committee.€€TheŠ Ķ ŠCommittee€appreciated€the€comprehensive€introductory€statement€and€detailed€responses€providedŠ ¶ Što€the€Committeeššs€written€questions€by€the€representative.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ381.€€The€Committee€noted,€however,€that€the€third€periodic€report€did€not€comply€with€theŠ qĮ ŠCommitteeššs€reporting€guidelines€for€periodic€reports,€and€that€it€essentially€reiterated€informationŠ ZŖ Šthat€had€been€considered€at€the€time€of€presentation€of€Australiaššs€second€periodic€report€in€1994.€Š C“ ŠAt€the€same€time,€Australia€could€have€combined€its€third€periodic€report€with€the€fourth,€which€wasŠ ,| Šdue€in€August€1996,€to€enable€the€Committee€to€explore€more€fully€the€developments€that€had€takenŠ e Šplace€since€1995€when€the€third€report€was€submitted.Š žN ŠĢ382.€€As€there€seems€to€be€misunderstanding€about€the€status€of€Australiaššs€reports€under€theŠ Š!   ŠConvention,€for€the€sake€of€clarification€the€situation€is€as€follows:Š ¹" ! ŠĢą  ąņņReport€ą0 ø ąą  ąą h ąDate€dueą0ø (#ø (#ąą p ą€Date€submitted€ą0x(#(#ąConsideredóóŠ‹$Ū#x(#x(# Šą  ąInitial€report€ą0 ø ąą0ø (#ø (#ąą0h(#(#ąAugust€1984€ą0h(#h(#ąą0p(#(#ąOctober€1986€ą0 p(#p(#ąą0x (# (#ą1988Št%Ä $x(#x(# Šą  ąSecond€periodic€report€ą0 h ąAugust€1988€ą0h(#h(#ąą0p(#(#ąJuly€1992€ą0 p(#p(#ąą0x (# (#ą1994Š]&­!%x(#x(# Šą  ąThird€periodic€report€ą0  ąą0h(#(#ąAugust€1992€ą0h(#h(#ąą0p(#(#ąMarch€1995€ą0 p(#p(#ąą0x (# (#ą1997ŠF'–"&x(#x(# Šą  ąFourth€periodic€report€ą0 h ąAugust€1996€ą0h(#h(#ąą0p(#(#ąNot€submittedŠ/(#'p(#p(# Šą  ąFifth€periodic€report€ą0  ąą0h(#(#ąAugust€2000Š)h$(h(#h(# ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ ź*:&* ŠĢ383.€€Australiaššs€commitment€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention€and€to€the€realizationŠ ¼, (, Šof€the€human€rights€of€women€was€reflected€in€such€legislative€and€administrative€efforts€as€the€NewŠ „-õ(- ŠNational€Agenda€for€Women€of€1993,€the€Sex€Discrimination€Act€of€1984€and€Amendment€of€1995,Š ° Šthe€Human€Rights€and€Equal€Opportunity€Act€of€1986€and€its€amendments,€the€review€of€theŠ ™é ŠAffirmative€Action€(Equal€Employment€Opportunity€for€Women)€Act€of€1986,€the€annual€womenššsŠ ‚Ņ Šbudget€statement,€the€register€of€women€maintained€by€the€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women,€and€theŠ k» ŠOffice€of€the€Sex€Discrimination€Commissioner.Š T¤ ŠĢ384.€€The€Committee€welcomed€Australiaššs€pioneering€role€in€addressing€violence€against€womenŠ & v Šand€the€measures€and€strategies€that€had€been€put€in€place€to€prevent€and€eliminate€it.€€It€commendedŠ  _ Šthe€Government€(Bureau€of€Statistics)€for€the€establishment€of€the€first€comprehensive€nationalŠ ų H Šstatistical€profile€on€the€extent€and€nature€of€violence€against€women,€and€for€its€strong€commitmentŠ į 1  Što€reducing€the€incidence€of€domestic€violence€including€through€preventive€measures.€€TheŠ Ź   Šrecommendations€emanating€from€a€National€Domestic€Violence€Forum€in€September€1996€and€theŠ ³  Šconvening€of€a€National€Domestic€Violence€Summit€in€1997€were€considered€to€be€important€stepsŠ œģ  Štowards€raising€awareness€about€the€issue€and€contributing€to€the€creation€of€a€climate€in€which€suchŠ …Õ  Šviolence€would€no€longer€be€tolerated.Š n¾  ŠĢ385.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€existence€of€a€national€health€policy€for€women,€which€had€beenŠ @ Šestablished€in€1989,€and€for€which€funding€was€currently€allocated€for€financial€year€1998„1999.€Š )y ŠThe€policyššs€participatory€approach€in€providing€innovative€primary€health€care€and€in€emphasizingŠ b Šservices€for€disadvantaged€groups€of€women,€including€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islanders,€andŠ ūK Šmigrant€women€were€commendable,€as€was€the€inclusion€of€womenššs€reproductive€health€andŠ ä4 Šsexuality€among€its€seven€priority€issues.€Š Ķ ŠĢ386.€€Legislation€enabling€the€Government€to€prosecute€Australians€who€committed€sexual€offencesŠ Ÿļ Šabroad€was€also€commended.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ387.€€The€preparation€by€the€Law€Reform€Commission€of€the€report€on€equality€of€women€beforeŠ ZŖ Šthe€law€was€an€important€step€in€further€strengthening€the€equal€access€of€women€to€justice€and€inŠ C“ Šeliminating€discrimination€and€gender€bias€in€areas€such€as€legal€aid,€violence€against€women,Š ,| Šimmigration€and€refugee€law.€€The€recommendation€of€the€Commission€to€enact€an€Equality€ActŠ e Šwhich€could€lead€to€the€entrenchment€of€equality€legislation€in€the€Constitution€would,€ifŠ žN Šimplemented,€reinforce€Australiaššs€leadership€role€with€regard€to€the€equality€of€women.Š ē 7 ŠĢ388.€€The€Committee€applauded€the€Governmentššs€intention€to€ratify€the€amendment€to€article€20,Š ¹" ! Šparagraph€1,€of€the€Convention€concerning€the€Committeeššs€meeting€time€and€noted€withŠ ¢#ņ" Šsatisfaction€Australiaššs€support€for€the€preparation€of€an€optional€protocol€to€the€Convention€on€aŠ ‹$Ū# Šcomplaints€procedure€and€the€initiation€of€domestic€consultations€in€that€regard.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ F'–"& ŠĢ389.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€changing€role€of€government€in€terms€of€public€expenditure€andŠ )h$( Šthe€ongoing€decentralization€of€responsibility€in€a€number€of€areas,€including€health,€from€theŠ *Q%) Šfederal€to€territorial€or€state€Governments,€had€had€an€impact€on€the€legal€and€practicalŠ ź*:&* Šimplementation€of€the€Convention.€€Australia€continued€to€have€two€reservations€to€the€Convention,Š Ó+#'+ Šone€with€regardŠ ¼, (, Što€paid€maternity€leave€and€one€with€regard€to€"combat„related"€employment€in€the€armed€forces,Š „-õ(- Šwhich€constituted€an€obstacle€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.Š ° ŠĢ390.€€The€Committee€was€aware€that€Aboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women€continued€to€faceŠ ‚Ņ Šdiscrimination€and€disadvantages€in€terms€of€access€to€rights,€opportunities€and€resources.Š k» ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concernóóŠ =  ŠĢ391.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€about€the€Governmentššs€apparent€shift€in€attention€andŠ  _ Šcommitment€to€the€human€rights€of€women€and€the€achievement€of€gender€equality.€€IndicationsŠ ų H Šsuch€as€the€cut€by€38€per€cent€in€the€budget€of€the€Office€of€the€Status€of€Women€and€a€similarŠ į 1  Šreduction€of€funding€for€the€Human€Rights€and€Equal€Opportunities€Commission€gave€rise€toŠ Ź   Šconcern.€€WhileŠ ³  Šincreased€efforts€at€gender€mainstreaming€into€all€sectoral€areas€were€commendable,€the€CommitteeŠ œģ  Šwas€concerned€about€the€weakened€role€of€national€machinery€in€providing€policy€advice€on€equalityŠ …Õ  Šissues€and€in€monitoring€the€effective€implementation€of€such€policies.€€The€discontinuation€of€theŠ n¾  Šwomenššs€budget€statement,€as€well€as€of€the€national€register€of€women,€was€regrettable€since€bothŠ W§  Šhad€served€as€a€model€for€other€Governments€embarking€on€similar€exercises.Š @ ŠĢ392.€€The€Committee€was€alarmed€by€policy€changes€that€apparently€slowed€down,€or€reversed,Š b ŠAustraliaššs€progress€in€achieving€equality€between€women€and€men,€such€as€in€housing€andŠ ūK Šchildcare€programmes,€and€in€employment€assistance.€€It€was€concerned€about€the€delay€inŠ ä4 Šappointing€a€Sex€Discrimination€Commissioner€and€about€the€Governmentššs€declared€intention€toŠ Ķ Šchange€its€human€rights€policy€and€legislation€as€it€pertained€to€women.Š ¶ ŠĢ393.€€The€Committee€expressed€its€concern€about€the€possibility€that,€at€a€time€of€fiscal€constraint,Š ˆŲ Šresources€for€programmes€and€policies€benefiting€women€or€aimed€at€overcoming€discrimination,Š qĮ Šfor€example€in€health,€the€provision€of€legal€aid€services,€training€and€awareness€programmes€onŠ ZŖ Šviolence€against€women€for€health,€judicial,€professional€and€other€workers€might€be€subjected€toŠ C“ Šdisproportionate€budget€cuts.Š ,| ŠĢ394.€€The€Committee€noted€with€concern€that€violence€against€women,€notwithstanding€majorŠ žN Šefforts,€remained€a€central€concern€to€Australian€women,€7€per€cent€of€whom€experienced€some€typeŠ ē 7 Šof€violence€in€the€course€of€a€year.€It€noted€the€absence€of€data€concerning€violence€againstŠ Š!   ŠAboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women€and€assessment€of€programmes€directed€at€reducingŠ ¹" ! Šsuch€violence.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ395.€€The€Committee€was€also€concerned€about€paedophilia€and€sex€tourism€involving€AustralianŠ t%Ä $ Šmen,€primarily€in€Asian€countries,€and€the€situation€of€women€brought€to€Australia€as€brides.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ396.€€The€Committee€noted€with€concern€that€new€legislation€on€industrial€relations€providing€forŠ /(#' Šthe€negotiation€of€individual€contracts€between€employer€and€employee€might€have€aŠ )h$( Šdisproportionately€negative€impact€on€women.€€Part„time€and€casual€workers,€of€whom€womenŠ *Q%) Šformed€a€disproportionate€share,€were€usually€in€a€weaker€position€than€other€workers€to€negotiateŠ ź*:&* Šfavourable€working€agreements,€in€particular€with€regard€to€benefits.€€The€reservation€to€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠConvention€with€regard€to€paid€maternity€leave,€and€Australiaššs€non„ratification€of€ILO€ConventionŠ ¼, (, ŠNo.€103€concerning€maternity€protection,€remained€a€concern€for€women€workers€with€familyŠ „-õ(- Šresponsibilities.Š ° ŠĢ397.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€at€the€continuing€adverse€situation€of€Aboriginal€and€TorresŠ ‚Ņ ŠStrait€Islander€women.€€Major€causes€of€concern€included€a€higher€incidence€of€maternal€mortality,Š k» Šlower€life€expectancy,€reduced€access€to€the€full€range€of€health€services,€a€high€incidence€ofŠ T¤ Šviolence,€including€domestic€violence,€and€high€unemployment€rates.€€Their€situation,€as€well€asŠ =  Šthat€of€migrant€women,€was€further€compromised€by€an€apparent€rise€in€racism€and€xenophobia.Š & v ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ ų H ŠĢ398.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€the€Government€should€carefully€monitor€the€impact€ofŠ Ź   Šrecent€policy€changes€in€all€areas€covered€by€the€Convention€for€inclusion€in€its€next€periodic€report.€Š ³  ŠTo€that€end,€it€recommended€that€Australia€conduct€analyses€of€the€successes€and€shortcomings€ofŠ œģ  Šthe€new€policies€with€a€view€to€providing€data€for€future€action,€both€in€Australia€and€elsewhere.€Š …Õ  ŠIt€recommended€that€the€Government€design€a€long„term€strategy€aimed€at€the€full€implementationŠ n¾  Šof€the€Convention.Š W§  ŠĢ399.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€recommended€that€an€evaluation€should€be€conducted€of€theŠ )y ŠWorkplace€Relations€Act€of€1996,€assessing€its€impact€upon€women€of€different€age€groups,€withŠ b Šdifferent€educational€levels€and€in€different€occupational€groups.€€The€Government€should€assessŠ ūK Šwhether€the€Act€leads€to€increased€or€decreased€part„time€and€casual€work,€and€its€impact€on€womenŠ ä4 Šworkersšš€benefits€and€on€workers€with€family€responsibilities,€particularly€womenššs€ability€to€obtainŠ Ķ Šmaternity€leave.€€A€similar€evaluation€and€assessment€was€recommended€for€Australiaššs€newŠ ¶ Šchildcare€benefit€scheme.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ400.€€The€Committee€encouraged€the€Government€to€assess€the€benefits€of€a€continuing€nationalŠ qĮ Šwomenššs€health€policy€and€to€ensure€that€any€further€change€in€that€policy€did€not€lead€to€aŠ ZŖ Šdecreased€access€by€women,€especially€vulnerable€groups€of€women,€to€comprehensive€healthŠ C“ Šservices.€€It€alsoŠ ,| Šrecommended€that€data€and€indicators€on€health€should€be€collected,€disaggregated€by€sex,€age,Š e Šethnicity,€rural/urban€areas€and€other€distinctions.€€Data€should€also€be€collected€on€the€impact€ofŠ žN Šthe€shift€in€responsibility€for€health€care€from€the€federal€to€the€state€level.Š ē 7 ŠĢ401.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€the€Convention€and€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€PlatformŠ ¹" ! Šfor€Action€should€be€translated€for€non„English„speaking€Australians.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ402.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€a€comprehensive€strategy€to€eliminate€violence€againstŠ t%Ä $ Šwomen€should€be€adopted€following€the€National€Domestic€Violence€Summit,€with€an€emphasis€onŠ ]&­!% Šprevention,€and€with€sufficient€funding.€€It€also€recommended€that€ways€should€be€found€to€involveŠ F'–"& Šwomenššs€groups€in€the€development€of€strategies€to€reduce€violence€in€the€media,€includingŠ /(#' Šelectronic€media,€and€that€they€should€participate€in€the€development€of€regulatory€codes€of€practiceŠ )h$( Šof€the€media.€€The€Government€should€further€assess€its€monitoring€and€enforcement€responsibilitiesŠ *Q%) Šin€that€regard.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ403.€€The€Committee€noted€the€differing€state€provisions€in€relation€to€prostitution€and€encouragedŠ ¼, (, Šthe€Government€to€assess€the€effectiveness€of€the€varying€measures€in€reducing€the€exploitation€ofŠ „-õ(- Šprostitution.Š ° ŠĢ404.€€The€Committee€encouraged€the€Government€to€collect€statistical€data€on€the€participation€ofŠ ‚Ņ ŠAboriginal€and€Torres€Strait€Islander€women€in€the€workforce,€in€decision„making,€in€politics€andŠ k» Šadministration,€and€in€the€judiciary€with€a€view€to€enhancing€programmes€that€would€benefit€them.€Š T¤ ŠIt€suggested€that€the€Government€might€include€representatives€of€those€communities€when€itŠ =  Špresented€its€next€report€to€the€Committee.Š & v ŠĢ405.€€The€Committee€recommended€that,€in€the€light€of€the€Mabo€and€Wik€judgements€of€the€HighŠ ų H ŠCourt,€the€Government€should€develop€the€necessary€legislative€and€policy€measures€to€ensureŠ į 1  Šwomenššs€equal€access€to€individual€ownership€of€native€land.Š Ź   ŠĢ406.€€The€Committee€encouraged€the€Government€to€strengthen€its€support€for€womenššs€studies,€toŠ œģ  Šprovide€funding€for€research€and€teaching,€and€to€facilitate€international€academic€exchange€andŠ …Õ  Šcooperation€in€that€field.Š n¾  ŠĢ407.€€The€Committee€encouraged€the€Government€to€resume€its€active€and€visible€participation€inŠ @ Šinternational€forums€on€womenššs€equality,€such€as€the€Commonwealth€and€the€United€Nations.Š )y ŠĢ408.€€The€Committee€requested€the€wide€dissemination€in€Australia€of€these€concluding€commentsŠ ūK Šso€as€to€make€individuals€aware€of€the€steps€that€had€been€taken€to€ensure€de€facto€equality€forŠ ä4 Šwomen€and€the€further€steps€required€in€this€regard.Š Ķ ŠŌUSUK.,ŌĢŌUK.,US.,ɐŌņņĢóóÓĮÓ