Australian Human Rights Commission
Submission to the UN Committee On The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination, 30 October 2017
65.
The Bill passed the Australian House of Representatives on 14 August 2017.
However, the Bill was discharged from the Notice Paper in the Australian
Senate on 18 October 2017 and is no longer under active consideration.64
66.
The Commission also notes the Australian Government’s ongoing consultation
regarding simplification of Australia’s visa system.65
Recommendation 15: That the Australian Parliament not pass the
Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the
Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 in
its current form.
Recommendation 16: That the Australian Government ensure that any
amendment to Australia’s visa system comply with international human
rights law (including rights enshrined in CERD).
Cultural diversity in Australian organisations and institutions
(CERD article 5; CO 14)
(a)
Leadership
67.
There is currently a limited level of cultural diversity represented in the
leadership of Australian organisations and institutions.66
68.
The Commission notes the 2016 Blueprint for cultural diversity and inclusive
leadership, Leading for Change, a publication of the Working Group on
Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Leadership, convened by the Race
Discrimination Commissioner.67 The Blueprint provides a snapshot of the
cultural composition of senior leaders in Australian business, politics,
government and civil society. The Blueprint found an ‘under-representation’ of
cultural diversity in leadership positions in Australia. It notes that:
of CEOs in ASX 200 companies, 76.62% had an ‘Anglo-Celtic’
background, 18.41% had a ‘European’ background, 4.98% had a ‘nonEuropean’ background and none had an ‘Indigenous’ background
of federal parliamentarians, 78.76% had an ‘Anglo-Celtic’ background,
15.93% had a ‘European’ background, 3.54% had a ‘non-European’
background and 1.77% had an ‘Indigenous’ background
of federal Ministers and Assistant Ministers, 85.71% had an ‘Anglo-Celtic’
background, 11.90% had a ‘European’ background, 2.38% had an
‘Indigenous’ background and none had a ‘non-European’ background
of federal and state public service leaders (Secretaries and heads of
departments), 82.26% had an ‘Anglo-Celtic’ background, 15.32% had a
‘European’ background, 1.61% had a ‘non-European’ background and
0.81% had an ‘Indigenous’ background
15