Redleather

As Sydney farewelled the Pope the government has announced:

News from Canberra is that overnight Australia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention is an international treaty that identifies the rights of persons with disabilities as well as the obligations on States parties to the Convention to promote, protect and ensure those rights. 

The Convention aims to promote a global community in which all people with a disability are equal and active citizens. It is guided by principles of non-discrimination and full and effective participation and inclusion in society. So far, it has been ratified by 29 other countries.

Inquiries into three Bills introduced by the Federal Government as part of their commitment to remove discrimination against same-sex couples and their children from Federal legislation are closing soon.

Currently, two thirds of Australian women have no access to paid leave when they have children. Australia and the United States are the only two OECD countries that do not offer paid maternity leave.

Earlier this year, the Productivity Commission was asked by the Federal Government to inquire into the potential introduction of Paid Maternity Leave in Australia.

Paid maternity leave is important because it provides financial support to allow time for mothers to recover physically from the birth and bond with her baby. There are also economic benefits. The ACTU points out that:

Mine safety is a crucial issue for the mining industry across Australia. In recognition of this, the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has been coordinating the National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF) - a mechanism that aims to deliver greater consistency in mine safety and health regulation across Australia.

Public consultations are currently underway for the final four strategies of the Framework: