The Government has announced it will introduce a number of
reforms designed to bolster the national legal framework for
combating sexual harassment at work. This comes in the wake of a
wave of publicity surrounding high profile sexual harassment and
assault allegations.
Background – Respect@Work Report
In 2018, the Government commissioned a national inquiry into
sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, driven in large part by
the #MeToo movement. The product of this inquiry – the
Respect@Work Report (the "Report")
– found that sexual harassment is a pervasive and widespread
issue across Australian society and that the existing legal
framework for addressing sexual harassment is complex and confusing
for both workers and employers. The Report sets out 55
recommendations for how the legal framework could better prevent
and address sexual harassment at work.
