Category Archives: Equal Rights

Nyadol Nyuon becomes the first African Australian woman to be appointed the chairperson of a national multicultural peak body in Australia

In September 2020, Melbourne lawyer, human rights advocate and former refugee Nyadol Nyuon was appointed the new chair of Australia’s migrant and refugee women’s coalition, Harmony Alliance. Born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia where her family fled to escape … Continue reading

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Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act introduced

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 came into effect. The Act required a range of organisations with more than 100 people to establish a workplace program to remove the barriers to women entering and advancing in … Continue reading

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Rural Women’s Unit established in Department of Agriculture

In 1995, the Australian government established a Rural Women’s Unit in its agricultural department. This had the effect of increasing women’s visibility in departmental programs and training.

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Legal status of women in agriculture was changed to that of “farmers”

In 1994, the legal status of women in agriculture was changed to that of “farmers.”

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Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) collected information about women on farms for the first time

In 1994, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) collected information about women on farms as part of its wider Farm Surveys. This was the first time that such data about the contribution of women on farms had … Continue reading

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The Queensland Anti Discrimination Act and Australian Capital Territory Discrimination Act Passed

The Queensland Anti Discrimination Act and Australian Capital Territory Discrimination Act were passed, which promotes equal opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination

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Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986

The Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 required certain employers to promote equal opportunity for women in employment, and to establish the office of the Director of Affirmative Action, and for related purposes. It was superseded by … Continue reading

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Pamela O’Neill becomes first Sex Discrimination Commissioner

After enacting the Federal Sex Discrimination Act (1984) Pamela O’Neill becomes the first Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Pamela was a trained biochemist before being elected to the Northern Territory Government, and then appointed to the position of Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner. … Continue reading

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Federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 passed by the Federal Government. This made discrimination on the basis of gender, pregnancy and marital status illegal in Australia.

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Australia ratifies CEDAW

Australia signed on to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1983.  Often described as an international bill of rights for women, it was adopted in 1979 by the UN General … Continue reading

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