Media Release

1 June 2006

Women lose out with new Industrial relations laws

The new Federal Industrial Relations Laws will have a significant impact on working women in our communities.

Business and Professional Women Australia President Kay Morrison said: “These new laws will impact the most vulnerable working people in our communities. Usually, this is women in the casual and part-time, low-skilled, jobs.

“Their casual loadings will be removed; holidays will be reduced as will the ability to take sick leave to care for their children and for aged parents. Security of employment is now gone as employers have the ability to sack without cause or explanation”

“This is sad day for working women,” Morrison said. “So many of the benefits we fought for over decades have now been wiped out. The chance of having Paid Maternity Leave for ordinary workers, as is enjoyed by families in most OECD countries, will not happen in Australia.”

“We have gone backwards.”

Ends

For further comment please contact:

Kay Morrison

BPWA President

Ph: (02) 6656 4156

MOB: 0411 372 164

Business and Professional Women (BPW) is an international organisation that educates and informs women, undertaking research and projects aimed at improving the status of women. BPW lobbies governments at all levels including the United Nations where it holds Special Category Status on current and emerging issues of importance to women.