Greens MLC Tammy Franks has introduced legislation to ensure that employers have a positive duty to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace. This has been a key recommendation of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner’s Review of Harassment in the South Australian Legal Profession, of the Review of Harassment in the South Australia Parliament Workplace, and of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work report.
Quotes attributable to Tammy Franks MLC, Greens SA Parliamentary Leader:
“We know that there is a serious problem with sexual harassment and discrimination in South Australian – and Australian – workplaces. Everyone deserves to work in a safe workplace, and we’ve waited long enough to take the necessary steps to make that happen. Government’s haven’t acted on these repeated recommendations, so the Greens will."
“We can’t let people continue to face the indignity of harassment and discrimination in the workplace when we know it is preventable."
“Enough is enough and our Equal Opportunity Act does not go far enough – yet it should, and it must. The behaviour described in these reports is disturbing and appalling. As a Parliament we have a duty to ensure it stops. No single action, no single piece of legislation will eliminate sexual harassment and discrimination from the workplace, but we can give workers an added level of protection and support. Employers are required to provide their workers with a safe workplace, and that must mean that the workplace is free of sexual harassment and discrimination."