23rd Jun 2021, 4:14 PM – Senate Motions - Discrimination - Against affirmative action

A large majority of senators voted against a motion introduced by Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts (One Nation), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Investigation Arista by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) found that:

(A) the Queensland Police Service (QPS) engaged in 'corrupt manipulation' and 'discriminatory' practices to achieve a 50% female hiring target,

(B) the discriminatory practices saw different standards applied to female and male applicants, with females selected in preference to the male applicants who had performed to a higher standard across entry assessments,

(C) some female applicants were approved for entry despite failing the cognitive, physical, or psychological assessment, and

(D) if the discriminatory practices had not been implemented, the CCC estimates 200 more meritorious male applicants who had passed the assessments would have been successful in joining the QPS, and

(ii) the use of discriminatory recruitment practices devalues the achievements of both females and males who achieve the required application standards; and

(b) further notes that:

(i) policies that discriminate based on gender are sexist,

(ii) policies that discriminate based on race are racist, and

(iii) judgements should only be made based on the merit of the individual and not other characteristics.