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

Just very briefly: the Respect@Work report suggested that a new prohibition should be introduced in the Sex Discrimination Act on creating or facilitating a hostile work environment on the basis of sex. The government does not believe this is necessary given that the model work health and safety laws already require that workers are protected from health and safety risks, including psychosocial risks, that can result from a hostile work environment. There is currently a specific obligation under work health and safety laws to provide a safe work environment. Intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environments would be considered a risk under existing work health and safety laws regardless of sex. Inserting an additional prohibition, including as drafted, may be duplicative and actually increase confusion for duty holders and workers.

The CHAIR: The question is that opposition amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1432, moved by leave, be agreed to.

Question negatived.