JULIE COLLINS MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGEING AND SENIORS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR FRANKLIN
TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
RELEASE OF AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS REPORT INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACES
The Australian Human Rights Commissions (AHRC) report is a deeply disturbing insight into the level of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is never acceptable. Every Australian has the right to feel safe at their place of work, and in all aspects of their life.
Unfortunately the damning statistics in the AHRC's report make it clear that far too many Australians, particularly women, do not enjoy this right.
Almost 40 per cent of Australian women and just over 25 per cent of men have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.
Almost 80 per cent said that one or more of their harassers were male.
These figures are unacceptable. The challenge now is for the Morrison Government to act.
While everybody has a role to play to end sexual harassment in workplaces, the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to drive the change required to do this.
Under the Liberals, Australia has slipped from 23rd to 44th in the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Index. The Morrison Government must do more to reduce gender inequality in Australia
Labor expects a formal response from the Morrison Government to the AHRC's 55 recommendations.
We look forward to a detailed briefing from the AHRC and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins on the report and we thank them for this most important work.
FRIDAY, 6 MARCH 2020
