Contents

Part I--Preliminary                                                                                                                 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

2A......... Objects of Act .................................................................................... 1

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

4............ Extension to Norfolk Island ................................................................ 5

5............ Application of Act ............................................................................. 5

5A......... Application of Criminal Code ............................................................ 6

Part II--Equal opportunity for women in the workplace programs             8

6............ Employers required to develop equal opportunity for women in the workplace programs    8

8............ Equal opportunity for women in the workplace program .................. 8

Part III--Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency         10

8A......... Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency .............. 10

9............ Director ............................................................................................. 10

10.......... Functions and powers of Agency ..................................................... 10

11.......... Directions by Minister ..................................................................... 11

12.......... Agency to submit reports to Minister ............................................. 11

Part IV--Reports by relevant employers                                                                12

13.......... Contents of public report ................................................................. 12

13A....... Reporting periods for reports ........................................................... 12

13B....... When public reports are due ............................................................. 13

13C....... Agency may waive public reporting requirements ........................... 13

14.......... Confidential reports of employer evaluations .................................. 14

15.......... Use of public report ......................................................................... 14

16.......... Request to relevant employer ........................................................... 14

17.......... Agency may grant extensions ........................................................... 15

18.......... Agency may request information ..................................................... 15

19.......... Failure to submit report or further information ................................ 15

Part V--Director of Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace   17

20.......... Appointment of Director ................................................................. 17

21.......... Tenure of Director ............................................................................ 17

22.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 17

23.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 17

24.......... Outside employment ........................................................................ 17

25.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 18

26.......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 18

27.......... Disclosure of interest ........................................................................ 18

28.......... Acting appointment .......................................................................... 18

Part VI--Miscellaneous                                                                                                     20

29.......... Staff .................................................................................................. 20

30.......... Consultants ....................................................................................... 20

31.......... Advisory committees ....................................................................... 20

32.......... Non‑disclosure of confidential information ...................................... 21

33.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 23

34.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 24

Notes                                                                                                                                             25

  

Notes to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999

Note 1

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 91, 1986 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see Act No. 55, 2001.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 22 December 1999 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986	91, 1986	3 Sept 1986	1 Oct 1986 (see Gazette 1986, No. S491)
Employment, Education and Training Act 1988	80, 1988	24 June 1988	1 July 1988 (see Gazette 1988, No. S190)	--
Industrial Relations (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988	87, 1988	8 Nov 1988	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Mar 1989 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 1989, No. S53)	--
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Amendment Act 1989	30, 1989	24 May 1989	24 May 1989	--
Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	105, 1992	9 July 1992	5 Oct 1992 (see s. 2)	--
Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Amendment Act 1992	181, 1992	16 Dec 1992	16 Dec 1992	S. 12
Qantas Sale Act 1992	196, 1992	21 Dec 1992	Schedule (Parts 3 and 6): (a)	S. 2(6) (am. by 60, 1993, s. 4; 168, 1994, s. 3)
as amended by
Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1993	60, 1993	3 Nov 1993	10 Mar 1993	--
Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1994	168, 1994	16 Dec 1994	S. 3 (item 17): Royal Assent (b)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 4 (items 6, 7): Royal Assent (c)	--
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996	60, 1996	25 Nov 1996	Schedule 19 (item 4): Royal Assent (d)	--
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (items 54, 55): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (e)	--
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Act 1999	183, 1999	22 Dec 1999	Schedules 1 and 3: 1 Jan 2000 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 3 [see Table A]
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Ss. 4‑14 and Schedule 3 (item 173): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (f)	Ss. 4‑14
Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	142, 2001	1 Oct 2001	S. 4 and Schedule 1 (items 10‑14): 2 Oct 2001 (g)	S. 4 [see Table A]
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2001	144. 2001	1 Oct 2001	Schedule 3 (item 1): Royal Assent (h) Schedule 3 (item 2): 29 Oct 2001 (h)	--
Abolition of Compulsory Age Retirement (Statutory Officeholders) Act 2001	159, 2001	1 Oct 2001	29 Oct 2001	Sch. 1 (item 97) [see Table A]
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002	105, 2002	14 Nov 2002	Schedule 3 (item 47): 12 May 2003 ( see s. 2 and Gazette 2002, No. GN49)	--
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2002	127, 2002	11 Dec 2002	Schedule 3 (item 19): Royal Assent	--
Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003	150, 2003	19 Dec 2003	Schedule 2 (item 102): (i)	--
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009	54, 2009	25 June 2009	Schedule 9 (item 1): (j)	--

(a)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by the Qantas Sale Act 1992, subsections 2(2), (5) and (6) of which provide as follows:

                 (2)   Subject to subsection (3), the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

                 (5)   If, on the 100% sale day, Part 3 of the Schedule has not commenced, then, on the day on which Part 7 of the Schedule commences, Parts 3 and 6 of the Schedule are taken to have been repealed.

                 (6)   If a provision of this Act has not commenced before 31 August 1995, the provision is taken to have been repealed on that day.

         The Schedule (Parts 3 and 6) are taken to have been repealed on 31 August 1995.

(b)    The Qantas Sale Act 1992 was amended by section 3 (item 17) only of the Qantas Sale Amendment Act 1994, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(c)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 4 (items 6, 7) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(d)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 19 (item 4) only of the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(e)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 54, 55) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(f)      The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 3 (item 173) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

                 (3)   Subject to subsections (4) to (10), Schedule 3 commences, or is taken to have commenced, at the same time as the Corporations Act 2001.

(g)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 10‑14) only of the Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(h)     The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 1 and 2) only of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2001, subsections 2(1) and (3) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (3)   Items 12, 13, 14, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 44, 46, 47, 48, 55 and 57 of Schedule 1, items 90, 91 and 101 of Schedule 2, and items 2 and 6 to 11 of Schedule 3 commence 28 days after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(i)      Subsection 2(1) (item 8) of the Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
8.  Schedule 2, items 95 to 103	The later of: (a) 1 January 2004; and (b) immediately after the commencement of sections 1‑10 to 238‑15 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.	1 January 2004

(j)      Subsection 2(1) (item 31) of the Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
31. Schedule 9	Immediately after the commencement of Part 2‑4 of the Fair Work Act 2009.	1 July 2009 (see F2009L02563)

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Title......................................	am. No. 181, 1992
	am. No. 183, 1999
Part I
S. 1......................................	am. No. 183, 1999
S. 2A...................................	ad. No. 183, 1999
S. 3......................................	am. Nos. 80 and 87, 1988; No. 30, 1989; Nos. 105 and 181, 1992; No. 60, 1996; No. 183, 1999; No. 55, 2001; Nos. 105 and 127, 2002; No. 150, 2003; No.  54, 2009
S. 5......................................	am. No. 105, 1992; No. 183, 1999
S. 5A ..................................	ad. No. 142, 2001
Part II
Heading to Part II.................	rs. No. 183, 1999
S. 6......................................	rs. No. 183, 1999
S. 7......................................	am. No. 30, 1989
	rep. No. 183, 1999
S. 8......................................	rs. No. 183, 1999
Part III
Heading to Part III.................	rs. No. 181, 1992; No. 183, 1999
Heading to s. 8A.................	am. No. 183, 1999
S. 8A...................................	ad. No. 181, 1992
	am. No. 183, 1999
Ss. 9, 10..............................	am. No. 181, 1992; No. 183, 1999
Ss. 11, 12............................	am. No. 181, 1992
Part IV
S. 13....................................	am. No. 30, 1989; No. 181, 1992
	rs. No. 183, 1999
S. 13A.................................	ad. No. 181, 1992
	rs. No. 183, 1999
Ss. 13B, 13C.......................	ad. No. 183, 1999
S. 14....................................	am. No. 181, 1992
	rs. No. 183, 1999
Ss. 15, 16............................	am. No. 181, 1992
S. 17....................................	am. No. 181, 1992; No. 183, 1999; No. 144, 2001
S. 18....................................	am. No. 181, 1992
	rs. No. 183, 1999
S. 19....................................	am. No. 181, 1992
Part V
Heading to Part V................	rs. No. 183, 1999
S. 20 ...................................	am. No. 159, 2001
S. 22....................................	am. No. 43, 1996
Part VI
S. 29....................................	am. No. 146, 1999
S. 30....................................	am. No. 181, 1992
S. 31....................................	am. No. 181, 1992; No. 43, 1996; No. 183, 1999
S. 32....................................	am. No. 181, 1992; Nos. 142 and 144, 2001
S. 33....................................	am. No. 181, 1992; No. 183, 1999

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Act 1999
(No. 183, 1999)

1  Definitions

In this Schedule:

Agency means the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.

amended Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act means the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act as in force on and after 1 January 2000.

Director means the Director of Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace.

old Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act means the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act as in force immediately before 1 January 2000.

2  Continuity of Agency and Director not affected

To avoid doubt:

                     (a)  the continuity of the Agency's existence; and

                     (b)  the continuity of the Director's appointment;

is not affected by the change to the Agency's name or Director's title, or by any other amendment, made by Schedule 1 or 2.

3  Waiver of reporting obligations

A waiver given under section 13A of the old Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act continues in force according to its terms as if it were issued under section 13C of the amended Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act.

Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 142, 2001)

4  Application of amendments

             (1)  Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.

Abolition of Compulsory Age Retirement (Statutory Officeholders) Act 2001 (No. 159, 2001)

Schedule 1

97  Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply to an appointment if the term of the appointment began before the commencement of this item.