Industry welcomes the passage through Parliament of the Respect@Work Bill

The Australian Industry Group welcomes the passage through Parliament today of the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021 to implement some of the key recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work Report.  The report was the outcome of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces conducted by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins.

"Sexual harassment has no place in Australian workplaces.  The changes that the Bill will introduce are set to make a meaningful difference in stamping out this unacceptable conduct,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

“The Bill will:

• Amend the unfair dismissal laws in the Fair Work Act to make specific reference to sexual harassment;
• Expand the anti-bullying provisions in the Fair Work Act to give the Fair Work Commission expanded powers to deal with sexual harassment in Australian workplaces;
• Make various measured amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act; and
• Expand the compassionate leave provisions in the Fair Work Act to include miscarriages.

“Employers are keen to preserve respectful relationships in their workplaces, and the Bill will provide more support for employers to deal with unacceptable conduct," Mr Willox said.

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