Full description Background
As a function of government, women's affairs appears to have evolved within the Premier's portfolio out of the promotion of equal opportunity under the Equal Opportunity Act 1977 (No.9025) and the provision of advice and information to women through the Community Services Centre, established in 1975.
In 1975 a Community Services Centre was opened by the Premier with an aim to create greater understanding between all members of society and to create equal opportunities for all. In particular, it was intended to provide information on the activities of government departments and instrumentalities, and also to provide a place for the public to put their problems to trained officers. Located within the Premier's Department (VA 2717), the Centre included several bureaux which carried out functions which later developed within the Premier's portfolio. The Anti-Discrimination Bureau preempted the introduction of the Equal Opportunity Act 1977 (No.9025). The Premier was responsible for equal opportunity until 1985 when responsibility passed to the Attorney-General (VRG 19).
An administrative unit responsible for women's affairs was established in April 1978 within the Premier's Department (VA 2717). It appears that the establishment of this unit directly resulted from the introduction of the Equal Opportunity Act 1977 (No.9025) which came into operation between December 1977 and April 1978. The administrative unit took on a broader role than the Women's Advisory Bureau which was part of the Community Services Centre.
The Act made it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex (including sexual harassment) and marital status in the areas of employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.
The 1980 Victorian Government Directory of Administration and Services included within the Premier's portfolio the following two units:
Co-ordinate Committee on the Status of Women
to report to the Premier in consultation with the Equal Opportunity Advisory Council on matters of concern to women
to promote equality for women
to educate the public re the changing roles of men and women.
Office of Co-ordinator of Women's Affairs
to examine the medical and legal problems experienced by victims of rape and other sexual assaults
to make recommendations re public education measures that would reduce the incidence of rape and other sexual assaults.
From circa 1980 to 1992 the Premier was responsible, through the Co-ordinator of Women's Affairs (see Department of the Premier VA 2717) and its successor the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit (see Department of the Premier and Cabinet VA 1039), for:
provision of policy advice to the Premier on issues affecting the status of women
monitoring and reviewing policies and programs which impact on women
co-ordinating and monitoring the activities of agencies with a view to improving the status of women
assisting agencies to enhance service delivery to women
co-ordinating Victoria's responses to committees and international agencies on women's issues
representation of Victoria on Commonwealth-State committees
annual Women's Budget report
register of women interested in appointment to government boards and committees
liaison with non-government organisations providing services to women
The Premier has at times also been referred to as the Minister responsible for Women's Affairs although this does not appear to have been a commissioned position. As part of the machinery of government changes introduced in October 1992 the Attorney-General was also commissioned as Minister for Women's Affairs and an Office of Women's Affairs was established within the Department of Justice (VA 3085). This Office is responsible for:
providing advice to the Minister for Women's Affairs, and to the Premier and Cabinet on issues affecting the status of women
monitoring and reviewing policies and programs which impact on women
assisting agencies to enhance service delivery to women
producing the annual Women's Budget report
maintaining the register of women interested in appointment to government boards and committees
providing administrative support to the Victoria Women's Council
representing Victoria on Commonwealth-State committees
liaison with non-government organisations providing services to women.
Since 1999 there has once again been a separate Minister for Womens Affairs with an Office of Womens Policy located in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Its functions are listed as :
providing strategic policy advice to the Government on issues of concern to women;
coordinating and monitoring government policies and programs which impact on women and their families;
providing information to women and consulting with women and womens organisations;
conducting research and identifying emerging trends and issues on the needs of women and effective methods to address those needs.
Data time period: 1836 to 2013