New Sex Discrimination in Australia to apply to both Men and Women

2010-06-27T06:15:16+00:00

The Sex Discrimination Act has ALWAYS applied equally to men and women. In fact, when Australia passed the Sex Discrimination Act (which implemented the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) the committee in charge of the Convention had a huge whinge because the language of Australia's legislation was gender neutral, and didn't acknowledge the 'unique struggle of women against male discrimination and violence.'

In short, I don't know what that article is on about.

Edit: Here's the definition of sex discrimination as per the Act, as you can see, completely gender neutral: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/sda1984209/s5.html

And here's a great passage which shows just how gender neutral the drafters tried to be "s5(1A) To avoid doubt, breastfeeding (including the act of expressing milk) is a characteristic that appertains generally (emphasis added) to women."

Edit 2: "In other changes, the government plans to restructure the military and family court systems." It has restructured military courts, and not because they planned to, but because they were declared to be unconstitutional. Awful article.

2010-06-27T05:23:11+00:00

shortest article ever

ashpatil · 2010-06-27T00:18:37+00:00

Never thought I would see the day, especially from this government.

These changes could very well come in handy.

rmbarnes · 2010-06-27T21:56:52+00:00

I don't get where breast feeding comes into it.

ashpatil · 2010-06-27T12:26:11+00:00

bugsydash,

I think it has been generally accepted in Australia that men have NOT been able to seek remedy from sexual discrimination by way of the sex discrimination act.

It has been a gripe for many men's group that the act has acted as a de facto "Women's Discrimination act" in practice.

From my understanding, there was too much discretion in the existing act, and whenever men were discriminated against, for example not allowed in health clubs, not allowed in swimming pools, not allowed in domestic violence centres and not allowed in nightclubs, the presiding officers simply provided an "exemption".

Currently, the act is full of pot holes because of so many exemptions, and they are clearly disproportionate in which groups they apply to.

It has been an utter failure as a Sex Discrimination act, and was in desperate need for a make-over.

On the other point, I too applaud that addition of the breast feeding clause, which given some reactions mentioned in the media, was needed.

kloo2yoo · 2010-06-27T00:32:46+00:00

anyone notice the feminization hypnosis links below the article? The author of them is 'admin.' what's with that?

Title	New Sex Discrimination in Australia to apply to both Men and Women
Author	ashpatil
Upvotes	25
Comments	8
Date	June 27, 2010 12:17 AM UTC (16 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/cje7v/new_sex_discrimination_in_australia_to_apply_to/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/new-sex-discrimination-in-australia-to-apply-to.1048898 https://theredarchive.com/post/1048898

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