Social Legislation  Conciliation and Arbitration Court  Harvester Judgment  Age and Invalid pensions  Maternity allowance

What is Social Legislation? Laws that seek to promote the common good, generally by protecting and assisting the weaker members of society, are considered to be social legislation. Such legislation includes laws assisting the unemployed, women, the disabled, and the elderly.

During the first 14 years from 1901, the Commonwealth Government introduced some of the most progressive industrial and social legislation. The reforms were of great benefit to ordinary working class Australian men and women, although indigenous Australians were generally excluded from most of the reforms.

Conciliation and Arbitration Court  Introduced in  Its aim was to settle disagreements between employers and trade unions.  Acted as a ‘referee.’  Came up with an agreement on work issues and conditions.  Only trade unions could deal with the court.  Resulted in increased membership in trade unions.

Harvester Judgment  Name derived from the company that featured in the court case, Sunshine Harvester.  A new resolve to ensure that workers were entitled to basic working rights, such as a minimum wage.  The court president, Justice Higgins, ruled that a ‘fair and reasonable’ wage for an unskilled man was roughly $4.20 a week, basing this on the needs of an average employee.

Harvester Judgment  However, the basic wage varied from state to state, as the decision only applied to Commonwealth workers’  Strengthened he opinion that Australia was a ‘working man’s paradise’.  The basic wage was not applicable to women and this did not change until 1914, despite price rises

Harvester Judgment  Workers Compensation Act 1912  Scheme to provide employees who suffered a work-related accident or disease.  It provided a model that could be introduced by states.

Age and Invalid pensions  Prior to Federation, the aged and disabled were cared for by their families or by charities.  Introduced in 1901  Based on legislation that existed in NSW and VIC.  To receive the invalid pension, individuals had to be completely and permanently incapable of working

Age and Invalid pensions  Pension of $52 per year for: - Australian born citizens - Naturalised British citizens over 65 - Resident for 20 years  Similar pension provided for those with a disability.  Excluded groups: - Indigenous Australians - Ingenious people from Africa and Pacific Islands - Asian people.

Maternity Allowance  The Commonwealth government promised a maternity bonus in their federal election campaign  Under the Maternity Allowance Act in 1912, a ‘baby bonus’ was introduced.  Every mother received 5 pound (around $10 or more than two weeks’ pay) at the birth of a child.  Asians and Indigenous peoples were excluded from claiming the 1912 bonus

Questions to be completed in your study book  Identify the voting rights of Aboriginal peoples, women and other groups. One paragraph.  Outline the major social legislation of the new federal government that affected living and working conditions in Australia. One paragraph.