The appointment comes after current Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Pru Goward, decided to take leave from the position as of 3 November this year. Goward is instead focusing her efforts on election to the NSW Parliament.

“[Von Doussa’s] appointment ensures that the Commission will be able to seamlessly continue its important work addressing sex discrimination and promoting gender equality throughout the Australian community,” national Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said.

“As the current president of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and a former Federal Court Judge, [von Doussa] is extremely well qualified to act in the position,” he said.

If Goward is successful in her bid to enter NSW Parliament, the Government will consider longer-term arrangements for the position of Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Ruddock said.

Von Doussa’s term as acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner began on November 4.