FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 NOVEMBER 2004
SEX DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE JUDICIARY IS AUSTRALIAÕS SHAME
The speech on 27 October 2004 by High Court Judge Justice Michael McHugh which accuses the legal profession of systemic discrimination against women, and which has restricted the Australian High Court to only one female Judge, Judge Mary Gaudron, is a public declaration of AustraliaÕs shame.
Ò Australia stands alone in having no female members on our final appeals court, and this is not a satisfactory position for over 50% of the populationÓ argues BPW Australia President, Kay Morrison.
Over 47% of the High Court Associates are women, and about 50% of Law Graduates are women, and this percentage is not reflected in the highest court in the land. It is past time this was addressed by the Federal Government.
There are many women within the judiciary who have the necessary skills and experience to fulfill the requirements for this position. More work is needed to tackle entrenched attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls and the current strategies need to be evaluated and improved.
The statistics show a failure of the Australian government strategies in removing gender inequality in our work places and communities, and it is shameful that this information has not been highlighted earlier. Australia should include the statistics on the number of female High court Judges and women holding senior legal positions, as part of its reporting function to the United Nations Commission On the Status of Women, at the Beijing Plus 10 in March 2005.
BPW calls upon Mr Howard to ensure the High Court reflects the composition of the women in the judiciary, and within the legal profession, quite apart from the composition in society.
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271 words
For further information contact:
Kay Morrison,
President
BPW Australia
(02) 66564156 / Mobile 0411 372164,