Ryan appointed age discrimination advocate

Former Hawke government minister Susan Ryan has been appointed Australia's first-ever age discrimination commissioner.
Ms Ryan made history in 1984 when she became the first woman to serve in the cabinet of a federal Labor government.
Now the 68-year-old former education minister and ACT senator will make history again, when she becomes a full-time advocate against age discrimination.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said Ms Ryan would speak up for older Australians, as well as younger people subject to age-based discrimination.
Under the Age Discrimination Act, Ms Ryan would be charged with tackling discrimination in workplaces and the wider community.
"This includes discrimination in getting a job or applying for a promotion, enrolling at TAFE or university, applying to rent a house or using services such as at a bank," he said in a statement.
Ms Ryan will take on the role which Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick had done part-time.
National Seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill said Ms Ryan needed to focus on the under-employment of older people.
"The reality is many older Australians, including those disability pensioners who can now work up to 30 hours a week, want to work but no one will employ them," he said.
"Unfortunately, age discrimination extends well beyond the everyday interactions between individuals and employers."
Ms Ryan played a pivotal role in developing the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 when she was minister assisting the prime minister on the status of women.
She is an honorary chair of the Australian Human Rights Group.