Urgent law reform needed to prevent sexual harassment at work

We have joined over 60 organisations and individuals across legal, community, health, sexual assault services, academic and union sectors, calling for urgent reform to prevent sexual harassment at work.

In April last year, the government announced it would adopt ‘wholly, in part, or in principle,’ the 55 recommendations set out in the landmark Human Right Commission Respect@Work report investigating sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.

One of the core findings of Respect@Work was that our current laws are ‘simply no longer fit for purpose’ and should require employers to take proactive measures to prevent sexual harassment.

Respect@Work also highlighted the disproportionate impacts of sexual harassment on women, in particular on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women of colour, women with disability, younger women, older women, low paid and insecurely employed women, and on LGBTIQ+ communities. It found that we must address gender inequity as the main driver of sexual harassment.

Two years on, we are deeply concerned that key recommendations from Respect@Work have still not been implemented. These sensible and practical changes to our laws must be made urgently to help create gender-equal and inclusive workplaces that are safe, respectful and equitable for everyone.

Read the Power2Prevent Joint Statement.