Australia's sex discrimination commissioner has welcomed the introduction of new laws putting the onus on employers to stop sexual harassment in the workplace.
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The federal government put forward a bill on Tuesday that would implement seven recommendations from commissioner Kate Jenkins' Respect@Work report.
The legislation introduced to the House of Representatives on Tuesday would place the onus on employers to take "reasonable and proportionate" measures to eliminate sexual discrimination in the workplace as much as possible.
Ms Jenkins said the changes would go a long way to make workplaces safer.
"The right of workers to be free from sexual harassment is a human right, a workplace right and a safety right," she said.
"This legislative reform will create a regulatory environment in Australia that is key to the realisation of that right for all Australian workers."
The Australian Human Rights Commission will also be beefed up under the new laws with powers to enforce the requirements, and will be able to give compliance notices to employers not meeting the obligations.
Ms Jenkins said the laws shifted responsibility from a complaints-based model to one where employers needed to meet their duties.
"These important reforms are timely and should be considered by state and territory governments to achieve greater harmonisation of sexual harassment legislation as part of any upcoming legislative reviews," she said.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the laws would make clear the obligations employers had to stamp out sexual discrimination.
"Sexually-charged or hostile workplace environments can increase the risk of a person experiencing other forms of unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment," he told parliament on Tuesday.
"Focus on prevention of workplace sexual harassment and discrimination also shifts responsibility from those who experience that discrimination and harassment to those who are best placed to prevent it."
It's estimated one in three people have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.
Conduct resulting in hostile work environments based on sex will be banned under the legislation, while federal public sector organisations will also be required to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency on gender equality indicators.
The Respect@Work report was published in March 2020.
The report laid out 55 recommendations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
Unions have also welcomed the introduction of the laws, with ACTU president Michele O'Neil saying the reform was long overdue.
"Employers having an obligation to prevent sexual harassment is essential to making workplaces safe for everyone," she said.
"We will not have gender equality while women are having to leave jobs because they feel unsafe."
Independent MP Zoe Daniel said employees had the right to feel safe in any workplace.
"This is a good first step. I look forward to seeing all 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work Report implemented as a matter of priority," she said.
Mr Dreyfus said the government was committed to implementing all the recommendations outlined in the report.
"Sexual harassment is a serious and pervasive issue that affects all industries and all professions and demands a fundamental rethink in how our laws are shaped to prevent, and respond, more effectively," he said.
"Sexual harassment is by no means inevitable, it is preventable, and this government will continue work to ensure that it is addressed."
The bill is expected to be referred to a Senate committee to be scrutinised before becoming law.
Australian Associated Press
