Australian laws need to protect dads, official says

CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) - Australia's sex discrimination commissioner has gone in to fight for the country's men who complain that their careers suffer if they take time out to be dads.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said Australia needed to change laws to better protect men who choose the "daddy track" and to ensure men and women have equal access to flexible work arrangements and time-off for family duties.

Many Australian companies were reluctant to allow men to work part-time so they could take a bigger role in looking after their children, she added.

"Men told of the pressure that they felt to be the primary breadwinner and the long work hours that prevented them from sharing time with their partners, children and other family members," Broderick said on Tuesday.

"Men can only bring a complaint if they are sacked."

Broderick released a report on key areas needed to improve gender equity which found women were still paid less than men, had less retirement savings, did more unpaid work and child caring, and were subjected to more sexual harassment.

But she said that although both men and women complained about trying to juggle work and home responsibilities, Australia's laws offered more protection to mothers than fathers.

Appointed to the position last September, Broderick said reducing the incidence of sexual harassment, and helping Australians balance work and family commitments, would be key areas for time in the job.

(Reporting by James Grubel, editing by Miral Fahmy)