On Wednesday, 23 October 2024, Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ) hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM), bringing together staff, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate a year of incredible achievements and reflect on the positive impact BRQ continues to have in the community. The highlight of the event was stories of impact from BRQ’s dedicated team members, … Read More
News
Improving accessibility of paid DFV leave
This week saw the release of the Independent Statutory Review of the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2022. WWQ supports thousands of Queensland women each year, a large portion experiencing FDV at the same time as navigating workplace issues. We celebrated the introduction of paid FDV leave to the National … Read More
Costs reform a gamechanger in access to justice in discrimination claims
The Power to Prevent Coalition (which includes Basic Rights Queensland) welcomes the costs reforms passed by parliament on 19 September 2024. The Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill implements recommendation 25 of the Respect@Work Report and adopts a modified equal access costs model in federal anti-discrimination law in Australia, addressing a key barrier … Read More
New laws a major milestone for workplace equality
Based on its work supporting women subjected to systemic workplace abuse, Working Women Queensland has welcomed amendments passed by the Queensland Parliament to fight workplace sexual harassment and discrimination. Eloise Dalton, Director of Working Women Queensland, highlighted the importance of the Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Bill 2024, for protecting vulnerable workers across … Read More
Join Us at Working Women Queensland Conference 2024
Join us at the 2024 Working Women Queensland Conference, being held at Barrambin / Victoria Park Function Centre on Tuesday 3 September 2024. A full day conference, followed by an afternoon social event to network and to unpack the day. WWQ is dedicated to using a feminist framework to support women in the workplace, and … Read More
Workplace inequality doesn’t add up
Today (19 August) is Equal Pay Day – 50 days into the new financial year. That’s how many additional days Australian women must work to earn the same, on average, that men did in the last financial year. Each year, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) calculates the day based off average weekly earnings data … Read More
Strengthening Queensland’s human rights act
Since its commencement in 2020, Queensland’s Human Rights Act has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights of marginalized groups. Basic Rights Queensland’s work with people facing disability discrimination and employment-related issues underscores the Act’s significance. We have utilized the Act to advocate for clients, ensuring public entities uphold their obligations and reconsider actions … Read More
Calling for safe regulation of risks posed by AI in the workplace
Jean* was pregnant and asked her employer to consider the risks to her safety, due to the volatile and sometimes dangerous nature of her work. Following her request, Jean was no longer rostered for her guaranteed part-time hours. This impacted her financially. State and Federal anti-discrimination laws make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate … Read More
Welcoming Our New CEO, James Farrell
Basic Rights Queensland is excited to welcome our new CEO, James Farrell. James has a long history of fighting for the rights of those who need it most, with over a decade in community legal centres, including as the manager/principal lawyer of Victoria’s Homeless Persons Legal Clinic and director of Community Legal Centres Queensland.
Albanese Government Affirms Working Women’s Centres with New Funding
Working Women’s Centres (WWC) have been funded in every state and territory. The Albanese Government has provided additional funding for established centres in South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory, as well as providing funding to establish Working Women’s Centres in states and territories that don’t currently have one.