ARTICLE · 25 APRIL 2013

Workplace bullying: Committee recommendations for Government

Sparke Helmore Lawyers

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Many of the recommendations will need investment or are dependent on cooperation with state and territory jurisdictions.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Janice Nand (Formerly With Sparke Helmore Lawyers)

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The term "bullying" is a bit like those other chameleons: "natural justice" and "privacy". Its meaning changes form depending on who is using it, and often bears little relationship to the applicable law.

Now there is a report that attempts to bring together the law and reality of workplace bullying. Workplace Bullying: We Just Want It To Stop, was tabled in Federal Parliament on 26 November 2012 by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment (the Committee).

The significance of the report is demonstrated by the fact that Safe Work Australia delayed finalising its "Code of Practice on Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying" until the report could be considered.

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