TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
 
TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS 
 
 
SCOTT MORRISON & THE LIBERALS VOTE AGAINST LABOR’S PROPOSAL TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE RESPECT@WORK REPORT TO HELP STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT

 
Today, Scott Morrison and the Liberals voted against Labor’s proposal to fully implement the Respect@Work report to help keep Australians safe from sexual harassment at work.
 
Back in April, Mr Morrison promised he would adopt the recommendations in the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work Report. In the Parliament this week, he was given the opportunity to do just that. But he didn’t.  
 
The response from Scott Morrison is nowhere near strong enough to deliver the legislative changes proposed by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Like everything this Prime Minister does, it’s too little; too late; too half hearted; and too focussed on his own political interests.
 
The Liberals must explain to Australians why they voted against proposals to:

•    Change workplace laws to ban sexual harassment;
•    Require employers to try to prevent sexual harassment in their workplace;
•    Make equality between men and women an objective of the Sex Discrimination Act;
•    Protect victims against legal bills for taking legal action against perpetrators; and
•    Let unions, and other organisations, bring legal action against pepetrators on behalf of victims. 
 
Unlike the Liberals, an Albanese Labor Government will deliver these changes as part of fully implementing all 55 recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s groundbreaking Respect@Work Report.
 
Labor would work with the Workplace Sexual Harassment Council, employers, workers, unions, and legal experts to finalise and implement stronger laws as a matter of priority.
 
We have also announced that Labor will help keep Australians safe from sexual harassment at work by investing in women’s support services, and establishing a one-stop shop inside the Human Rights Commission to assist victims.
 
In the past five years, one in three people experienced sexual harassment at work, including two in five women. This widespread workplace harassment costs the Australian economy $3.5 billion a year. It must stop. 
 
THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2021