At least half of all women in Australia have experienced sexual harassment, abuse or violence. That’s 1 in 2 that has been sexually harassed, 1 in 3 that has been physically abused and 1 in 5 that has been sexually abused. Let that sink in. With #FiredUp, Refinery29 Australia makes an ongoing commitment to spotlighting this serious and pervasive issue with the goal of dismantling gendered violence in Australia.
From Brittany Higgins speaking out earlier this year to the #March4Justice rallies, the federal government has faced increased pressure in 2021 to take the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace more seriously.
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On Wednesday #wewontwait was trending on Twitter, as many Australian women's safety advocates said the time is now for the Morrison government to implement all 55 recommendations made by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins in the Respect@Work report – based on an inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace.
It comes after the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021 (the Respect at Work Bill) – where the federal government proposed to implement six of the 55 recommendations – was debated in parliament on Tuesday.
Female politicians took to the social media platform to inform Aussies of particular recommendations that the government voted against, including Recommendation 17, whereby the Sex Discrimination Act would be amended to introduce a positive duty on all employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.
"The Morrison Government has just voted AGAINST ensuring employers must take action to prevent sexual harassment," Victoria Labor senator Jess Walsh tweeted. "This Government’s women problem runs deep," she added, along with the hashtags #auspol and #wedontwait.
🚨BREAKING🚨
— Senator Jess Walsh (@JessWalshVic) September 1, 2021
The Morrison Government has just voted AGAINST ensuring employers must take action to prevent sexual harassment.
This Government’s women problem runs deep.#auspol #wewontwait pic.twitter.com/1csDpoZKJB
Senator Jenny McAllister tweeted that recommendations 16, 25 and 28 were all voted against.
Government now voting to oppose amendment in @ausenate which would implement rec 25 from Respect@work report, & protect complainants from crippling legal costs.
— Senator Jenny McAllister (@jennymcallister) September 1, 2021
Government in @AuSenate has voted against amendment to fully implement rec 16 of Respect@Work - to make substantive equality between men and women an object of the Sex Discrimination Act. #auspol
— Senator Jenny McAllister (@jennymcallister) September 1, 2021
Government has also voted to oppose my amendment to ensure the Fair Work Act prohibits sexual harassment (rec 28 in Respect@Work). #auspol
— Senator Jenny McAllister (@jennymcallister) September 1, 2021
Michele O'Neil, who is the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) explained the internet's revolt quite simply.
"Does the Morrison govt not understand why #wewontwait is trending. Let me explain it’s because women are watching them refuse to amend the law to implement all the Respect@Work recommendations," she tweeted.
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Does the Morrison govt not understand why #wewontwait is trending. Let me explain it’s because women are watching them refuse to amend the law to implement all the Respect@Work recommendations. pic.twitter.com/RGFzEXBlts
— Michele O'Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) September 1, 2021
In March 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its Respect@Work report. The report outlined 55 recommendations for government, business and community sectors to consider, indicating how Australia can better prevent and respond to sexual harassment.
A year later, women across Australia gathered at #March4Justice rallies in March 2021, calling on the government to implement all 55 recommendations. The federal government responded in April with its ‘Roadmap for Respect’ report, though the plan didn't necessarily commit to implementing all 55 recommendations.
Last month Jenkins urged the federal government to impose an onus on employers to prevent sexual harassment, as the current Sex Discrimination Act only asks employers to account for their workplace's culture "when someone makes a complaint."
Speaking at a Senate inquiry at the time, she said Recommendation 17 needed to be implemented.
She said the current legal framework encouraged employers to deter employees from complaining and was also very confusing state to state.
"Throughout our National Inquiry into workplace sexual harassment, which resulted in the Respect@Work report, we found that our laws must move from a reactive approach that relies on individual complaints by victims to one that requires preventative action to stop sexual harassment occurring in the first place," she told Refinery29 Australia.
"Respect@Work’s recommendation of introducing a positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act is central to achieving this shift. A positive duty will align the Sex Discrimination Act with safety laws, and require employers to take proactive steps to eliminating sexual harassment in their workplace."
On Tuesday federal Labor said it would commit to Recommendation 49 of the Respect@Work report if it won the next election. Days ahead of the federal government's National Women's Safety Summit next week, the party pledged $24 million towards funding existing Working Women's Centres (WWC) and ensuring there is one in every Australian state and territory if it wins the next election.
Along with this promise, it pledged $1.27 million will be invested into a "one-stop-shop" to "assist victims of workplace sexual harassment."