Summary
In response to recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs 2008 report Effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality, the bill amends the: Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to: extend protections from discrimination on the grounds of family responsibilities to both women and men in all areas of work; provide improved protection from sexual harassment for students and workers; ensure protections from sex discrimination apply equally to women and men; and establish breastfeeding as a separate ground of discrimination; and Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 to make a consequential amendment.