Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia)

(3.33 pm)—I move: That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) women make up only 25 per cent of board appointments in Australia, and

(ii) of that figure, only 10 per cent of the Australian Stock Exchange 200 companies have female directors, and only 8 per cent have female executives;

(b) recognises that:

(i) women in the workforce face many issues, including pay equity, the impact of unpaid work and family responsibilities on their careers and the disparity in retirement savings, and

(ii) improving the levels of female leadership in corporate Australia will help to drive change in all of these areas; and

(c) calls on cross-party support to take the lead and phase in meaningful quotas in boardrooms around Australia.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (4.29 pm)-I move:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

(i) 25 November is designated by the United Nations as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and that the white ribbon is the symbol for this day,

(ii) around Australia on 25 November, thousands of men and women will be wearing a white ribbon to show their support for this cause and taking an oath never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women, and

(iii) White Ribbon Day aims to build cultural change around the issue of violence against women through education and by promoting a culture of non-violence and respect, particularly among men and boys;