ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the Commonwealth legislation and upon the curious way in which the Australian regime is bifurcated and some of the consequences of that approach. Equal employment opportunity legislation is of slightly more recent origin, and emerged because of the limitations of legislation proscribing sex discrimination but lacking positive measures to effect structural change and eliminate discriminatory practices. The rhetoric of male disadvantage conceals the fact that the profound contraction in core unskilled and semi-skilled employment that has pushed increasing numbers of men into contingent work or unemployment is largely a product of external forces, including the dismantling of high levels of tariff protection. The notion of a 'family friendly' workplace has become an icon of the nineties. It promises much, employee driven flexibility, access to workplace based childcare facilities, parental leave, permanent part-time work with access to penalty rates, the ability to move in and out of the workforce without loss of career path and promotion opportunities.
