Report shows scope of harassment at Australia’s Parliament
3 years, 1 month ago

Report shows scope of harassment at Australia’s Parliament

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian government-commissioned report released on Tuesday has revealed the alarming extent of sexual harassment among those working for some of its highest legislative and elected offices. One-third of people working in Australia’s Parliament and federal politicians’ offices have suffered sexual harassment but only 11% of them reported it, according to the workplace review that was cited by the Australian Associated Press. The media outlet said the review, carried out by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, was sparked by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins going public in February about her alleged 2019 rape by a colleague in a minister’s office. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he found the statistics in the report “appalling.” “Like anyone who works in this building, I find the statistics that are presented, they’re of course appalling and disturbing.

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History of this topic

Australian Parliament staff make 30 complaints of workplace offences in 9 months
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Australian Parliament staff make 30 complaints of workplace offences in 9 months

India Today  

Staff at Australia's parliament made 30 complaints of serious workplace offences such as sexual assault over nine months, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday, as the legislature struggles to address a wave of scandals. The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service opened in October 2023 as a confidential service for federal parliament workers. It received 30 reports of serious wrongdoing out …

Two thirds of young women face bullying, sexual harassment, or verbal abuse at work
1 year, 7 months ago

Two thirds of young women face bullying, sexual harassment, or verbal abuse at work

The Independent  

Nearly two-thirds of young women say they have endured bullying, sexual harassment or verbal abuse in the workplace, according to damning new research. “This sometimes leads people to think they can touch you like they would touch the products.” The polling found more than three in five women saying they have endured three or more bullying incidents in the workplace, …

Concerns about harassment have ‘morphed into institutional misandry’, MP says
1 year, 9 months ago

Concerns about harassment have ‘morphed into institutional misandry’, MP says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The consequences of all this, and let’s be extremely careful with language that we …

NSW parliament's culture of bullying and sexual harassment revealed by investigation
2 years, 4 months ago

NSW parliament's culture of bullying and sexual harassment revealed by investigation

ABC  

Allegations of sexual assault, harassment and bullying have been uncovered in a landmark investigation into the workplace culture at NSW's parliament house. Key points: Both women and men reported actual or attempted sexual assault Alcohol was considered a contributing factor and some offices were described as "hotspots" for bullying Almost 450 people, representing 27.7 per cent of all parliamentary workers, …

#metoo: Reports of sexual harassment at work skyrocketing: Legal aid group
2 years, 5 months ago

#metoo: Reports of sexual harassment at work skyrocketing: Legal aid group

NL Times  

The number of reports of sexual harassment in the workplace more than doubled in recent months, according to the Achmea Legal Aid Foundation. Sexually transgressive behavior got a lot of media attention in the wake of the #metoo movement and revelations about sexual misconduct at the talent show The Voice of Holland, among others. After someone files a sexual harassment …

Review finds 1 in 3 staff in federal parliament experience sexual harassment
3 years, 1 month ago

Review finds 1 in 3 staff in federal parliament experience sexual harassment

ABC  

One in three people working in federal parliament have experienced some kind of sexual harassment there, according to a review of workplace culture sparked by rape allegations made by Brittany Higgins. Key points: The review found 51 per cent of workers experienced at least one incident of bullying, sexual harassment or actual or attempted sexual assault The report made a …

Inquiry finds widespread sexism in Australian parliament
3 years, 1 month ago

Inquiry finds widespread sexism in Australian parliament

Al Jazeera  

One in three Australian parliamentarians have experienced sexual harassment, a government-backed report has found. A high-profile inquiry into sexual harassment and bullying in Australia’s parliament has found “sexist culture” to be widespread. The government-backed report – released on Tuesday following a seven-month investigation – said one in three people currently working at the parliament “have experienced some form of sexual …

Will academia ever have its #MeToo moment?
3 years, 2 months ago

Will academia ever have its #MeToo moment?

Al Jazeera  

Recent reporting from Al Jazeera has revealed that prominent male academics at elite universities in the United Kingdom have sexually harassed multiple students and staff, and that this has continued unabated for decades, across different institutions and even continents. Subsequently, we published a study of women’s experiences of trying to report sexual harassment from staff, finding that the process was …

It would be deemed unacceptable in other workplaces, so why is there no accountability within SA's Parliament House?
3 years, 3 months ago

It would be deemed unacceptable in other workplaces, so why is there no accountability within SA's Parliament House?

ABC  

The past parliamentary sitting week has given political observers yet another reason to shake their heads in disbelief. In any other workplace, the alleged behaviour would be a sackable offence — but that's not the case for those who work in Parliament House. Ms Franks said a case study referred to in the Equal Opportunity Commissioner's Review of Harassment in …

Half of women report unwanted sexual behaviour at work, damning YouGov survey finds
3 years, 6 months ago

Half of women report unwanted sexual behaviour at work, damning YouGov survey finds

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sarah Morrison, a senior campaigner at Avaaz, a global civic movement that commissioned the survey, said: …

Morrison government's reply to Respect@Work takes positive steps but is light on detail
3 years, 9 months ago

Morrison government's reply to Respect@Work takes positive steps but is light on detail

ABC  

Over a year ago, Kate Jenkins, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, publicly released the Respect@Work report, a landmark national inquiry into sexual harassment in workplaces by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Light on detail: the government's response Following intense public pressure, the Morrison government has finally responded to the report with a plan entitled, "A Roadmap for Respect: Preventing and Addressing …

Politicians and judges to be included in Sex Discrimination Act, federal government announces
3 years, 9 months ago

Politicians and judges to be included in Sex Discrimination Act, federal government announces

ABC  

The federal government will amend the Sex Discrimination Act to include politicians and judges, who have previously been exempt from the laws. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said a series of legislative changes would be introduced into Parliament this year, aimed at strengthening protections against sexual harassment in the workplace. Significant changes to the Fair Work Act and the Sex Discrimination Act …

Sweeping changes to sexual harassment laws
3 years, 9 months ago

Sweeping changes to sexual harassment laws

Daily Mail  

Australia's sexual harassment laws will be dramatically toughened up under a series of changes that will make it easier to fire offenders. Scott Morrison will move to toughen up sexual harassment laws with a series of changes that will make it easier to fire offenders The prime minister also wants to include sexual harassment in anti-bullying orders which allow employees …

Sex acts filmed in Australia’s parliament rock Morrison’s gov’t
3 years, 9 months ago

Sex acts filmed in Australia’s parliament rock Morrison’s gov’t

Al Jazeera  

News outlets say male government staff set up a Facebook group to share images and video of sex acts performed in Parliament. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he was “shocked” and “disgusted” by leaked videos of male government staff performing lewd acts in Parliament, including one of a man masturbating on the desk of a female legislator. Speaking to …

Female Labor staffers detail allegations of aggressive behaviour and sexual harassment
3 years, 9 months ago

Female Labor staffers detail allegations of aggressive behaviour and sexual harassment

ABC  

Allegations of sexual harassment and aggressive behaviour within Labor have been described by its deputy federal leader as an "indictment" on the party, with Richard Marles saying he's "appalled" and "deeply sorry" for the women. Key points: A Facebook page reportedly contains allegations of sexual harassment by Labor staffers Leading Labor figures have expressed concern at the claims, and have …

Is this Australia’s turning point on sexual harassment, assault?
3 years, 9 months ago

Is this Australia’s turning point on sexual harassment, assault?

Al Jazeera  

Multiple allegations of rape and sexual harassment against politicians and their staffers have sent shockwaves across the country. Canberra, Australia – Australian politics appears set to face a reckoning after a wave of allegations of sexual assault and harassment committed by multiple politicians and staff at Parliament House in the country’s capital. It is a toxic culture that excludes women, …

Why political staffers are vulnerable to sexual misconduct — and little is done to stop it
3 years, 10 months ago

Why political staffers are vulnerable to sexual misconduct — and little is done to stop it

ABC  

Brittany Higgins' allegation she was raped in a minister's office at Parliament House is just one of a number of recent stories of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct that have exposed the dark side of working conditions for some political staffers. Over the summer, I interviewed eight former political staffers about their experiences working in ministers' offices and electorate …

Sexist culture isn't just rife in politics. Corporate Australia also has questions to answer
4 years, 1 month ago

Sexist culture isn't just rife in politics. Corporate Australia also has questions to answer

ABC  

Questions about sexism and the power imbalance between men and women at work are not confined to the Canberra bubble. AMP's 'MeToo' moment Photo shows AMP logo on side of building AMP's promotion of Boe Pahari raises bigger questions for corporate Australia about how companies treat sexual harassment It is also the case that in corporate Australia men still predominantly …

Time's Up study: Many who report harassment face retaliation
4 years, 2 months ago

Time's Up study: Many who report harassment face retaliation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Tejani said the study was conducted nearly three years …

Workplace sexual harassment reports are rising during coronavirus — working from home may be a reason
4 years, 4 months ago

Workplace sexual harassment reports are rising during coronavirus — working from home may be a reason

ABC  

Coronavirus, working from home and recent high-profile cases are encouraging more women to come forward and revealing the true extent of Australia's sexual harassment problem, authorities have said. Key points: Victoria's equal opportunity commissioner says sexual harassment complaints are up about 8 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia Lawyers working in the area said many women felt more …

Sex workers say they are being 'harassed' by SA Police as decriminalisation debate continues
5 years, 6 months ago

Sex workers say they are being 'harassed' by SA Police as decriminalisation debate continues

ABC  

Sex workers say they are being harassed and intimidated by South Australian police, as figures show charges for sex-work offences have spiked in the past two years. Key points: A bill to decriminalise sex work passed SA Parliament's Upper House in 2017 Since then, sex-work related charges have jumped Police say they are targeting "Asian prostitution" Members of the industry …

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