Increase in sexual harassment Complaints
According to the Australian Human Rights Commission
(AHRC), 21% of all complaints it received in
2009/10 were under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984
('Sex Discrimination Act'), and 88% of
those complaints related to sex discrimination in the workplace.
Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, as well as,
discrimination based on pregnancy, marital status, breastfeeding
and family responsibilities.
By March 2011 sexual harassment complaints to the AHRC had
increased by 50% since 2009 and constituted a third of all
complaints under the Sex Discrimination Act.
What is sexual harassment?
Under the Sex Discrimination Act, sexual harassment in the
workplace is any form of unwelcome sexual attention that is,
offensive, humiliating or intimidating. There are three elements of
sexual harassment:
