Ninth periodic report submitted by Australia under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Question 18: Sexual harassment

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  1. Addressing workplace sexual harassment
  2. Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces
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Addressing workplace sexual harassment

  1. Measures taken to encourage reporting of sexual harassment in the workplace can be found in response to question 17c.
  2. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2009 amended the Fair Work Actto prohibit sexual harassment in connection with work, and provide workers with the option to deal with sexual harassment complaints through the Fair Work Commission, in addition to existing channels for complaints through AHRC and state and territory anti-discrimination or workplace health and safety bodies.
  3. The Government provided funding for working women's centres in all states and territories, to provide information, advice and assistance to women who experience workplace sexual harassment and other workplace issues, and the implementation of a national body to facilitate collaboration and coordination between centres. The national body is tasked with leading industry initiatives to prevent workplace sexual harassment, and lead research and analysis on systemic issues affecting working women, whilst contributing to policy debates about working women's rights and entitlements.
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Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces

  1. The Government committed to implement recommendations of the Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. The Report aims to ensure Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces are safe and respectful. To date, measures include:
    • a human resources entity, established to support parliamentarians and their staff, through professional development, resources to professionalise management practices, guidance to manage suspension and termination decisions, training on respectful workplace behaviour and codes of conduct; in addition to conducting complaints reviews made about certain alleged workplace misconduct;
    • the Australian Parliament endorsed interim behaviour standards and codes for parliamentarians, their staff and Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces that, amongst other things, prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace;
    • legislative amendments to parliamentary employment frameworks to ensure parliamentarians' staff work in safe, respectful and accountable workplaces;
    • the Australian Parliament's standing orders were reviewed with a view to improving safety and respect in the parliamentary chambers.
  2. The Government, in consultation with the Australian Parliament, established an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to investigate complaints of breaches of behavioural codes and standards for parliamentarians, staff and Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.
  3. Public reporting on implementation of the recommendations is available online and updated regularly.
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