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Scott Morrison accepts all recommendations in Sex Discrimination Minister Kate Jenkins’ Respect@Work report

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Lanai ScarrThe West Australian
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to all 55 recommendations from Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Respect at Work report.
Camera IconPrime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to all 55 recommendations from Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Respect at Work report. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Parliamentarians and judges will for the first time be covered by the Sex Discrimination Act under wide-ranging changes proposed by the Government in response to Kate Jenkins’ Respect @Work report.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning released his government’s long-awaited response to the report, accepting all 55 recommendations.

The Government has been criticised for failing to respond to the report for more than a year — leading to suggestions a review into the treatment of women in Parliament House would also be delayed.

Mr Morrison called the report a game changer.

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“It is changing the very narrative that will driver the appropriate actions needed right across governments and across our society,” Mr Morrison said.

“Everyone has a right to be safe at work. Sexual harassment must be prohibited in the work place.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
Camera IconSex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. Credit: DAVID MOIR/AAPIMAGE

“Prevention must be our goal, is the third principle. Stop it before it starts, to put it another way. This is a complicated area in our legal system.

“Our response is designed to make it less complicated.”

The definition of serious misconduct across all workplaces will be changed to include sexual harassment, which will also be a valid reason for dismissal.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the existing legal and regulatory frameworks for addressing workplace harassment were “difficult to navigate”.

“There would be consequences for any members of Parliament themselves who is found to have breached the Sexual Discrimination Act,” Senator Cash said.

“We'll be subject to the same law as anybody else which means we’ll be subject to the same consequences. Somebody can bring a complaint against you to the Commission. That complaint can be looked at. If it is upheld, it will be upheld.”

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the existing legal and regulatory frameworks for addressing workplace harassment were difficult to navigate’.
Camera IconAttorney-General Michaelia Cash said the existing legal and regulatory frameworks for addressing workplace harassment were difficult to navigate’. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

The time in which complaints can be brought forward will also be increased from six to 24-months.

“As you know, victims don't necessarily come forward in that six month period,” Senator Cash said.

“We're going to extend that out to 24 months to enable them and give them the time they may need to come forward but what we're also going to do is clarify the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act that it extends to judges and Members of Parliament.”

Mr Morrison said violence against women started with disrespect.

“That's where it starts and I would argue not just disrespect towards women, disrespect full stop. We have got to be careful in our society that we don't allow the reservoir of respect to drain and I fear it is,” he said.

Mr Morrison also said social media was having a damning impact.

“I genuinely fear that the reservoir of respect and the way we deal with each other and speak to each other is draining: I think social media has the most corrosive impact on that behaviour.”

Mr Morrison said the financial responses to the report would be included in the May Budget.

The government is aiming for a package of legislation to be introduced to parliament this year.

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