Australian EO Legislation to Employ Positive Discrimination

[Rensa]

I don't really expect this to be very controversial given the sounds I've heard members here make over positive discrimination, but I think it's an interesting talking point anyway:
Discrimination against white males will soon be encouraged
Susie O'Brien
December 09, 2008 12:00am

DISCRIMINATION against dominant white males will soon be encouraged in a bid to boost the status of women, the disabled and cultural and religious minorities.

Such positive discrimination -- treating people differently in order to obtain equality for marginalised groups - is set to be legalised under planned changes to the Equal Opportunity Act foreshadowed last week by state Attorney-General Rob Hulls.

The laws are also expected to protect the rights of people with criminal records to get a job, as long as their past misdeeds are irrelevant to work being sought.

Equal Opportunity Commission CEO Dr Helen Szoke said males had "been the big success story in business and goods and services".

"Clearly, they will have their position changed because they will be competing in a different way with these people who have been traditionally marginalised," she said.

"Let's open it up so everyone can have a fair go."

Victoria's peak business body expressed concern yesterday about the need for the proposed laws, and questioned if they would undermine the right of companies to make legitimate business decisions.

At present, individuals or bodies wanting to single out any race or gender for special treatment must gain an exemption from VCAT.

Companies and public bodies accused of discrimination can only be held to account after a complaint has been made.

But the proposed changes go much further, allowing the commission to inquire into discrimination, seize documents and search and enter premises after attempts to bring about change have failed.

Businesses and individuals would be required to change their ways even if a complaint had not been received.

[more] (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,24771759-2862,00.html)
Discuss!

[Smokey]

This kind of feminazi "thinking" disgusts me. This isn't about equality. It's about getting even. I hope your parliament realizes that.

[Lizzaroni]

This kind of feminazi "thinking" disgusts me. This isn't about equality. It's about getting even. I hope your parliament realizes that.
Why is it feminazi thinking when its being employed for all minority folks, not just women?

But yeah, that's [the article] the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Between your net censorship and this you might wanna hightail it out of there.

[JValone]

There is no such thing as positive discrimination, the phrase is an oxymoron in my opinion.

The only fair way to make judgments between individuals is to do so based on their actual qualifications for a job/university not on their racial, religious or economic background. I haven't been a big fan of affirmative action since I sat down with my university's financial aid advisor, was told I could get a scholarship based on my SAT/parent's income, then on further examination was told that by being a white male I did not qualify. Now I'll be leaving school in debt, I know I can pay it all back no problem but that personal experience turned me off to the whole concept of affirmative action or "positive discrimination".

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said his dream was that all people would be judged based not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character. I don't believe measures such as this one reflect that positive message of equality for all people. If anything it's a step backward.

In the United States I often hear about how forward thinking other countries are from well-meaning liberals, and how comparably backward our own government is. But the more I actually see how Europe, Australia and other countries run themselves I fear that some "intellectuals" (self-proclaimed) are going to bring more and more of the most awful policies over here. I'm all for fairness and giving everyone a shot at success, but creating artificial "success stories" by telling some individuals of the majority they need to take one for the team is something I will never agree with.

[Smokey]

Why is it feminazi thinking when its being employed for all minority folks, not just women?

Even though the headline states "white males", she goes on to say simply "males". I may be jumping to conclusions, but that coupled with her statement and the opening lines say feminazi to me.

The idea of affirmative action, interest groups devoted to the advancement of people based on race or sex or religion, scholarships for certain minorities only, all of that disgusts me. It's not a way to be equal. Again, it's all about getting even and getting in a jab back at whitey.

[Lizzaroni]

I've always thought any sort of affirmative action with regard to school should be income based, personally.

[Smokey]

^No argument there. Never thought of it as affirmative action, but I guess you could look at it that way.

[HGW XX/7]

They need to apply this to the NBA. Maybe then we'd see some more Mexicans and Buddhist monks tearing up the courts.

[Smokey]

Buddhist monks? They've already got Yao Ming. What more do they want?:P