Australia has been without a Sex Discrimination Commissioner for four months now.
Elizabeth Broderick ended an eight-year stint in the role in early September and, while hers are big shoes to fill, the government has made slow progress in finding a replacement.
Asked about the delay in November, Attorney-General George Brandis said he was expecting an appointment “very soon” and it is understood that an advisory panel is currently considering candidates.
It does seem a glaring oversight though, even without considering the current Jamie Briggs fiasco engulfing the government.
Labor is claiming the vacancy is evidence that Malcolm Turnbull still isn’t taking sexism seriously.
“I’m floored that the government doesn’t seem to care that Australia has no Sex Discrimination Commissioner,” shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told ABC radio this morning.
“Malcolm Turnbull has simply done nothing to fill this important position,” he said.
“It doesn’t appear to be a priority for him, and that is a disgrace for women everywhere.”
Meanwhile, the former commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, who has been named the 2016 NSW Australian of the Year, says there are many impressive and qualified candidates available for the job.
Watch her discuss her achievements on ABC News Breakfast yesterday:
“I know that plans are under way to appoint a new sex discrimination commissioner,” Ms Broderick said.
“I’d love to live in an Australia where we didn’t need a sex discrimination commissioner. Unfortunately, we’re absolutely not at that point now, but I do hope that we see an appointment in the reasonably foreseeable future and there are so many great candidates out there.”
Feature image via Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick Facebook page.
Top Comments
I'll admit the NSW bias but I think Linda Burney or Kerry Chikaroski could be effective. Oh, OK, here's a Victorian, and not so obviously partisan ALP LNP- Dr. Susan Carlson. 👍
What about a token male to give the veneer it's not a totally sexist process?
Because they were *my* suggestions. You're free to make your own, in your own replies to the topic.
Who is Dr Susan Carlson? I have heard of the other two women, but not her.
Hi Susie, I first saw her on ABC's Agony Aunts but she's probably better known for being a sociologist and social commentator, appearing in various media.. And, for being the wife of Waleed Aly, and an Aussie feminist Muslim woman. As far as I know, she teaches politics and gender studies at Monash.
Years ago I asked the sex discrimination commissioner , a woman why I wasn't entitled to the same paternity benefits as a woman working for the same employer. The answer " because your a man" the commissioner at that time could understand why I would ask. It's about time a man was made commissioner otherwise it's perceived sex discrimination is alive & well