Effects-on-women statements for all bills

Summary#

This bill amends the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. It requires the Minister to review how federal bills and certain amendments could affect women, with special attention to Indigenous women, and to report to Parliament. The Minister must also post each statement online soon after it is tabled. The rules start 6 months after Royal Assent (final approval by the Governor General).

• Requires a public “effects on women” statement for every government bill within 2 sitting days (s. 5.1(1)-(2)).
• Requires a statement for non‑government bills once they are sent to committee, within 10 sitting days (s. 5.2(1)-(2)).
• Requires a statement on House-origin amendments within 7 sitting days after the other House receives the bill (s. 5.3).
• Orders publication of each statement on the department’s website the next day (s. 5.4).
• Applies only to bills introduced 6 months after Royal Assent (Transitional).

What it means for you#

• Households and advocates

  • You can read short, official statements on how new federal bills may affect women, especially Indigenous women, on the department’s website the day after tabling (s. 5.4).
  • For government bills, the statement should appear very soon after introduction (within 2 sitting days) (s. 5.1(2)).
  • For private members’ or Senate public bills, a statement appears only if and when the bill is sent to committee, within 10 sitting days (s. 5.2(1)-(2)).
  • For amendments made by the first House, a statement on those amendments must be tabled in the second House within 7 sitting days (s. 5.3).

• Indigenous women and communities

  • Each statement must consider impacts “particularly [on] Indigenous women,” making these effects more visible in Parliament and to the public (s. 5.1–5.3).

• Members of Parliament and Senators

  • You will receive a tabled statement on effects on women for every government bill and, later in the process, for other bills sent to committee (s. 5.1(1); s. 5.2(1)).
  • You will also receive statements on amendments when a bill moves to the other House (s. 5.3).

• Federal departments and the Minister

  • The Minister must examine bills and table statements within set deadlines, then publish them online the next day (s. 5.1–5.4).
  • These duties begin for bills introduced 6 months after Royal Assent (Transitional).

• Businesses, local governments, and service providers

  • No direct new rules or reporting duties. You may use these statements to anticipate how federal legislation could affect women in your workforce or community.

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Key points

  • No direct appropriations, fines, or fees are created in the bill text (Bill text).
  • The bill creates an ongoing duty to prepare, table, and publish statements on tight timelines (2, 7, and 10 sitting days) (s. 5.1(2); s. 5.2(2); s. 5.3; s. 5.4). Administrative cost: Data unavailable.
  • Fiscal note: Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Improves transparency and accountability by requiring public statements and next‑day web posting, so people can see effects on women in near real time (s. 5.4).
• Sets clear, short deadlines that align with key stages of lawmaking: 2 sitting days after introduction for government bills; 10 sitting days after committee referral for other bills; 7 sitting days for House-origin amendments when received by the other House (s. 5.1(2); s. 5.2(2); s. 5.3).
• Ensures consistent coverage: applies to every government bill and to other bills once they are sent to committee (s. 5.1(1); s. 5.2(1)).
• Highlights impacts on Indigenous women by naming them explicitly in every required statement (s. 5.1–5.3).
• Provides a 6‑month lead time after Royal Assent so the department can prepare systems and guidance (Transitional).

Opponents' View#

• Narrow scope: focuses on women; it does not require analysis of effects on men or gender‑diverse people, which may leave out other impacts (s. 5.1–5.3).
• Tight timelines (2, 7, and 10 sitting days) may limit depth or quality of analysis, especially for complex or lengthy bills (s. 5.1(2); s. 5.2(2); s. 5.3).
• Uneven coverage: non‑government bills get a statement only after committee referral, so early debates and initial votes may proceed without this information (s. 5.2(1)).
• No methods, standards, or enforcement are defined; the bill sets no minimum content, data sources, or penalties for non‑compliance, which could lead to variable quality (s. 5.1–5.4).
• Costs and staffing needs are unknown; the bill adds ongoing duties but provides no funding or fiscal estimate, creating budget uncertainty (Bill text; Expenses: Data unavailable).