Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's submission to the Review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act recommends that ready-made links between Australia's network of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and industry associations be used in partnership with government to explore the feasibility of a register, according to Peter Anderson, ACCI's Chief Executive.

"While the number of women in senior management positions in major companies is not high, there is an enormous pool of talented women entrepreneurs who have owned and operated their own businesses. Bridging the gap between these women and large business in the corporate sector is a challenge we should set ourselves as a nation. If talented women with business acumen are available to serve the corporate sector, then that talent should be harnessed."

"Chambers of Commerce and Industry and industry associations have close and established links with women in small and medium business. There is scope for the government to work with business organisations and fund a programme which can make a difference to women' s participation, without the need for regulation or quotas."

ACCI's submission also:

• affirms support by the business community for merit based non discrimination and equal opportunity;
• identifies a mix of regulation and education as having made a difference in women's workforce participation;
• warns against counterproductive regulatory approaches, such as quotas;
• highlights the gains to women's participation if labour market regulation is flexible and not one-size-fits-all; and
• identifies barriers to work and family issues if flexibility clauses in industrial awards and workplace agreements are dumbed-down.

Source: www.getnetworking.com.au