Gender Equality Bill proposed by SA-BEST would protect SA’s public service employees

Laws to find and fix gender inequality such as pay gaps across SA’s public sector – more than 107,000 workers – have been proposed by SA-BEST.

Laws establishing a Gender Equality Commissioner in South Australia to help identify and address inequity, such as gender pay gaps, across the state’s public sector are being proposed by SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros.

The Gender Equality Bill would affect more than 107,400 public servants from nurses to teachers, judges, local mayors and MPs – 14.4 per cent of the South Australian workforce.

“This Bill is to ensure we are not judged by our chromosomes and can live our lives without discrimination, harassment, bullying and violence,” Ms Bonaros said.

“If passed, South Australia will be the second state in Australia to enact gender equality legislation following Victoria’s lead from last year.”

The Gender Equality Commissioner would oversee the Bill’s compliance and enforcement, including review of workplace gender audits and plans.

The Bill would cover public service ‘entities’, such as universities and the South Australian Courts Administration Authority. The entities would have clear obligations to set up and meet tailored gender targets.

SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the steps of state parliament House. Picture Mark Brake

Labor is broadly supportive of the Bill, up for committee stage discussion in the Upper House from August. The state government its still formalising a position on it.

“Australian women are significantly over-represented in part-time workers in low-paying jobs and insecure work and continue to be under-represented in leadership roles in the private and public sectors,” Ms Bonaros said.

She said gender equality was a basic human right and one that brought significant economic, social and health benefits for South Australians, including the prevention of family and other forms of violence.

She said public sector workplaces needed to be a beacon of example in gender equality if it was expected of non-government businesses and corporations.

Ms Bonaros is at the centre of alleged assault at a workplace function in 2019 involving independent MP Sam Duluk, who has pleaded not guilty to charges. Police alleged he assaulted Ms Bonaros by placing an arm around her waist and slapping her on the bottom.

As a result, a damning Equal Opportunity Commission review was ordered and found sexual harassment was prevalent in state parliament, with eight people reporting being victims of sexual harassment by MPs or their staff in the past five years.

Dr Niki Vincent, former SA Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, and now Victoria’s first Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector

Victoria’s first Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector, and SA’s former Equal Opportunity Commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent, said the Victorian Gender Equality Act covered more than 300 public sector organisations and 380,000 employees (11 per cent of Victoria’s workforce).

Dr Vincent said development of targets was an important pathway to gender equality, and collecting and publishing data to make inequality visible was vital to empower change.

“This law reflects the priorities of the community and ensures that gender equality is no longer a ‘nice to have’,” she said. “It’s a ‘must have’.”

State opposition spokeswoman for women Katrine Hildyard said: “We see benefits in establishing a Commissioner for Gender Equality like Victoria has to promote gender equality programs, services and workplaces, and have contemplated similar legislation.

“It is unacceptable women continue to be disproportionately and negatively impacted by pay inequality, gendered violence, sexual assault and other forms of discrimination, all of which a Commissioner could proactively address.”