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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-05-01 Daily Xml
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We're Equal Campaign

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:41): My question is to the Attorney-General regarding a We're Equal update. Will the minister inform the council about the progress of Equal Opportunity SA's We're Equal campaign?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:42): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. I am very pleased to be able to update the council on the current status of the We're Equal campaign run by Equal Opportunity SA, which has continued in its growth and success since I last informed the chamber about the program.

Encouragingly, there are now 169 We're Equal members listed on Equal Opportunity SA's website pledging to be employers who treat everyone equally regardless of their age, ability, gender diversity, sexuality, relationship and reproductive status, race, religion or culture. As acknowledged on Equal Opportunity SA's website, We're Equal members are actively committed to a vision of South Australia as an open and inclusive society that embraces and supports difference and diversity. This means they will make sure that their premises are safe places for all people. These employers have a zero tolerance for discrimination or disrespectful behaviours, whether to or by their customers, staff, suppliers or contractors.

A significant update to the campaign is that We're Equal now underpins a range of areas in public sector diversity, including the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-26, which was launched in December of last year and as a result membership of We're Equal was made a deliverable for all public sector agencies under the strategy.

The sector's senior leadership council collectively signed the We're Equal statement of commitment, with agencies subsequently registering for membership. This brought all public sector agencies and over 130,000 South Australian public sector employees under the We're Equal values commitment to actively support the diversity of their customers and consumers, their workers, their contractors and their suppliers through the zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying and harassment.

For example, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport has endorsed the We're Equal message through Adelaide Metro services and Service SA customer centres, and the Department for Education is planning to roll out We're Equal across 945 schools and preschools in the state. The Department of Human Services will also be promulgating We're Equal through its youth justice, disability and women's information services.

When I last updated the council about the We're Equal campaign, the project was still in its infancy. I am very pleased to report that as I said there is now a membership network of over 169 locations across South Australia in seven sectors, including government, health and wellbeing, professional services, retail, sport and unions.

Large agencies, such as the Adelaide Fringe, the Legal Services Commission and the Adelaide Central Market, are working to roll out the We're Equal message across metropolitan and regional South Australia. They join peak sporting bodies, such as the SANFL, Netball SA, Adelaide United, the Adelaide Football Club and Tennis SA, along with numerous arts organisations, hospitality and other services providers that are leading the way to ensure South Australian businesses are safe and respectful workplaces.

The project is one for all of us to be especially proud of as it is unique to South Australia. I understand there is no equivalent within Australia and in a search overseas. Importantly, we know that businesses with diverse workforces who respond to the needs of diverse consumers attract loyal customers and have better retention and productivity outcomes, which is why the We're Equal campaign is important on so many levels, including economically.

I want to thank the Equal Opportunity SA office staff, in particular the commissioner and assistant commissioner, for their efforts in getting the campaign to this stage, and I look forward to seeing the continued growth of this campaign and the positive impacts it has on South Australian businesses and our broader community.

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