Legislative Council: Friday, October 29, 2010

Contents

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question relating to the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The minister yesterday tabled the 2009-10 annual report for the Equal Opportunity Commission. The report states, 'For the fourth consecutive year, the highest number of complaints relate to disability and race.' I note that in 2009-10 the commission dealt with 90 complaints related to disability, more than twice as many as related to race, and three times as many as related to sex. My question is: what is the government doing to address disability discrimination?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:31): In fact, the particular policy issues around discrimination in relation to disability are not within my purview. I understand they come under the responsibility of the Minister for Disability, the Hon. Jennifer Rankine. The issues from the EO Commission that I am responsible for are obviously those that involve discrimination around gender.