Summary

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The 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