Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Senate · Thursday 13 February 2025

Continued from Monday 10 February 2025.

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate centred on whether large employers should be legally required to set and report on gender equality targets. The Liberal Party opposed the bill, arguing it imposed excessive regulatory burdens and compliance costs on businesses, potentially harming productivity and national security procurement. The Australian Greens supported the legislation as a necessary step to address the gender pay gap but criticised its limited scope, proposing amendments to extend requirements to smaller employers and ensure targets specifically address pay equity. The debate highlighted divergent views on the balance between regulatory intervention and business flexibility.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Continued the debate

Jane Hume (Victoria) (Liberal Party) Liberal VIC

Hume opposed the bill, arguing it placed significant financial and compliance burdens on over 1,650 large Australian companies. Hume contended that the legislation undermined business productivity and risked disrupting critical government procurement in sectors such as construction, mining, and national security. Hume criticised the ministerial power to set targets via legislative instrument rather than primary legislation, describing it as government overreach lacking adequate scrutiny. Hume warned that increasing red tape would exacerbate inflation and economic stagnation, noting that thousands of businesses had already failed under the current government.