Bills — Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill 2012; Consideration in Detail
Not passed by a small majority
No rebellions 95% attendance
22nd Nov 2012, 8:30 PM – Senate Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill 2012 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea
Summary
EditThe majority agreed with the main idea of the bill (in parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill a second time). This means that they can now discuss the bill in more detail.
Main idea of the bill
The bill makes three main changes. It will:
- widen the applicability of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 from just women to both women and men and so also change its name to the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012;
- introduce a new and simplified process for employers to report how they are meeting certain gender equality indicators; and
- increase compliance with the Act.
Background to the bill
During the 2010 election campaign, the Labor Government made a commitment to reduce gender inequality. Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Penny Wong, said that this bill is part of that commitment.
Read more about the background in the bills digest.
Votes Passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 9 Yes – 0 No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | Yes | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Yes | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Penny Wright SA | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (77% turnout) | 23 Yes – 0 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Mark Bishop WA | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Yes | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Yes | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Yes | |
| Trish Crossin NT | Yes | |
| Chris Evans WA | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| David Feeney Victoria | Yes | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | Yes | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | Yes | |
| Anne McEwen SA | Yes | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | Yes | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Matt Thistlethwaite NSW | Yes | |
| Lin Thorp Tasmania | Yes | |
| Penny Wong SA | Yes | |
| Bob Carr NSW | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | Absent | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | Absent | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party | Absent | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (81% turnout) | 0 Yes – 22 No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | No | |
| George Brandis Queensland | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | No | |
| Sean Edwards SA | No | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | No | |
| David Johnston WA | No | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | No | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| National Party (60% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | No | |
| John Williams NSW | No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Absent | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Yes | |
| Totals (79% turnout) | 33 Yes – 27 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.