Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The government agreed to—in full, in principle or in part—or noted all 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work report in the Roadmap for Respect. Only 15 of the 55 recommendations proposed specific amendments to federal legislation; many of the remaining recommendations were directed to state and territory governments, independent agencies, regulators and the private sector., recognising the whole-of-community approach required for real change outlined in Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins's Respect@Work report.

In addition to developing the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021, the Commonwealth, or the Morrison government, has already taken significant steps to implement other recommendations from the Respect@Work report. These include establishing the Respect@Work Council, to improve coordination, consistency and clarity across the legal and regulatory frameworks; and progressing work on recommendations requiring joint action through intergovernmental meetings such as national cabinet, the meeting of attorneys-general, the Women's Safety Taskforce and the meeting of work health and safety ministers.

In the 2021-22 budget, we've committed over $21.5 million to implementing the Roadmap for Respect. We are also, as you will be aware, amending the Fair Work Regulations in response to recommendation 31 of the Respect@Work report. The bill itself makes key amendments that would immediately strengthen the overarching legal framework with respect to sex discrimination and harassment. The government has prioritised those reforms which could be implemented quickly and easily. More complex reforms, as I have already articulated in my summing-up speech, will require additional consideration and consultation. This was actually recognised by the committee, who recommended that the bill be passed.

The amendments in the bill are informed by extensive consultation, including targeted consultation on a draft version of the bill prior to its introduction, public consultation by the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee and extensive public consultation undertaken by the Australian Human Rights Commission in developing the Respect@Work report.