Respect@Work Bill

Ms WELLS (Lilley—Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport) (16:32): The Respect@Work report investigated sexual harassment in Australian workplaces. Harassment, assault and abuse can have a lasting effect on survivors, and I recognise that days like today in particular are highly distressing. My thoughts at this time are with the victim-survivors of assault right across the country.

Last year, I voiced to the House my hope for what legitimate action on this issue could look like. At the time, millions of women across Australia watched and waited for the previous government to act. To no-one's surprise, the former government buried this report. When the election came, women across Australia demanded change. They helped change the government because they wanted action. They wanted to be heard and they wanted their concerns addressed by the lawmakers of their own country.

We now have a new Labor government, a government that has been listening to women, a government that is taking action to legislate some very long-fought-for justice for women. The 18-month national inquiry, led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, provided an opportunity for thousands of Australians to share their stories—stories of suffering, stories of pain and stories of harassment and assault that Australians have faced at work, including in this very building we stand in today. The walls of Parliament House hold countless stories, many of which came to light and were heard as part of this report. I want to acknowledge the strength, bravery and courage of all who came forward and contributed to this report. The horrific stories that were bravely shared signified courage and showed Australians that sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault are very much prevalent in our workplaces. They occur at every level, in every industry and in every profession across the nation.

I want to thank Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins and her staff at the Human Rights Commission for their tireless work in handing down this report. We appreciate you. I would also like to acknowledge the work of my colleagues the Minister for the Environment and Water and the now Deputy Speaker and member for Newcastle. They promised Australian women that a Labor government would see the implementation of all 55 recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner's Respect@Work report.

Last year 100,000 women across Australia took part in the March for Justice to have their voices heard. That march took place in the shadow of the revolution and reform that was brought about by women in the 1970s. That is how long women have been waiting for action like this.

Then we had a Prime Minister and a government who refused to even walk out the front door to listen to 10,000 women and supporters who were demanding respect at work on the lawns of Parliament House. Today we have a new government that is acting. The Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill marks a significant step towards fulfilling the government's commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Respect@Work report as a matter of priority. This bill fully implements seven recommendations, including all legislative recommendations, barring the inclusion of a prohibition on sexual harassment in the Fair Work Act 2009, which the minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is working on separately.

Every single person has the right to be safe, respected and valued in their workplace. Sexual harassment is not inevitable. It is preventable. We want Australians to know that no matter what you do or where you work, you should feel safe. We want to set the standard for the world to see. Being safe means that whatever your role and whatever you do, you are treated with fairness and respect. This includes ensuring that sporting participants are safe on and off the field. I am yet to find anyone who can assure me that Australian sporting institutions are safe. Just look at what we have had in the past three years. From the findings in Swimming Australia's review of the treatment of female swimmers, the appalling allegations regarding treatment of Indigenous players, to the Australian Human Rights Commission's shocking report into the culture of gymnastics, with review after review after review we have heard horrific stories.

The independent review into gymnastics, conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, was no exception. The review heard athletes' experiences of misconduct, bullying, abuse, harassment and assault. It is past time that we collectively acknowledged the systemic issues that undermine and underpin the sports we love—the abuse of power, assault and harassment. I acknowledge the athletes that have come forward with their stories and respect their courage, but, too often, they find it difficult to speak up in the face of intense competition and the power of the Australian sporting dream. In my new role as the Minister for Sport, I bear the responsibility to act. So I have set out to make a contribution that progresses integrity and equality within our wide world of sport, and to help provide a voice to those who feel unheard.

The Albanese Labor government has now created a new Safety in Sport Division to be part of Sport Integrity Australia. This division will have focus on abuses of power, discrimination and vilification. It will include a key measure to expand SIA's existing 1300 hotline to allow for anonymous reporting of abuse in sport. The anonymous hotline can be used by anyone in sport, past or present, who feels the need to be heard and who seeks support. This will help inform the government's policy so we can continue to act and develop policy to keep athletes safe in their workplace.

The Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill is crucial to ensuring our workplaces are environments where respect is automatic and treating people with humanity is the bare minimum. For too long, workplaces, including Parliament House, treated people without care, without respect and without dignity. Two in five women, or 39 per cent, and one in four men, or 26 per cent, have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. This is a societal issue that every Australian and every Australian workplace can help address.

I am proud to see that the Albanese government is moving decisively to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Respect@Work report. The implementation of these recommendations will change lives. They will have an immediate impact in setting a standard to help in eliminating workplace sexual harassment discrimination and victimisation.