Australia Report Finds Pregnant Women Pushed Out Through Sham Redundancies
Pregnant women and new mothers in Australia are being forced out of employment through sham redundancies, loss of shifts and hostile work environments after having a baby, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission's Balancing Act report. The Guardian The commission warns that parental discrimination remains a major barrier to gender equality.
The report was compiled after roundtables with dozens of parents, legal advocates and community advocates. It found pregnancy discrimination is more prominent for immigrant and First Nations women, people with disability and LGBTQ+ people.
Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody said urgent law reform to the Sex Discrimination Act is needed to protect women and families. The report recommends stronger laws to protect pregnant women and mothers from discrimination. ABC News
Past research points to a long-running problem. A national review by the commission in 2014 found 49% of mothers reported discrimination during pregnancy, parental leave or on return to work. A 2024 survey of 1,048 parent workers by the University of South Australia found 89% reported discrimination during pregnancy, 85% while on parental leave and 92% when returning to work.
Complaints to the commission increased from 52 in 2023 to 71 in 2025. Its executive summary states that 18% of mothers indicated they were made redundant or that their jobs were restructured.
An investigation by ABC's Four Corners uncovered tactics used to push mothers out of the workforce, describing an unwritten playbook used by companies. ABC's Four Corners Twenty-four women working in the public sector told Four Corners they faced pregnancy discrimination at work. ABC News
