Ginger Gorman* is calling for support to improve the Respect@Work legislation.
Here at BroadAgenda and the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra, we are proud signatories to a joint letter that has been tabled in Federal Parliament this week.
We believe the contents of the letter are urgent – not just for targets of sexual harassment – but for each and every one of us, as we seek a fairer and more just society that’s free from gendered violence.
The letter, which you can read in full underneath, addresses a specific concern we have regarding the proposed Respect@Work legislation.
While we’re broadly supportive of the proposed legislation, we have concerns about one particular aspect – and that is so-called “cost neutrality” in sexual harassment litigation.
This would require both sides in sexual harassment suits to pay their own costs.
This will greatly damage sexual harassment victims’ ability to take matters to court.
Or put the opposite way: We believe this will unfairly benefit employers and alleged perpetrators.
Alongside us, it is signed by organisations and individuals involved in sexual harassment and discrimination litigation, as lawyers, law firms, academics, advocates, trade unions, health services and policy experts.
If you wish to understand this further, Josh Bornstein, head of employment law at Maurice Blackburn, was on the ABC earlier this week discussing the issues at play.
Please put your support behind this letter and share it as widely as you can.
The two-page letter can be accessed at this PS News link.
*Ginger Gorman is a fearless and multi award-winning social justice journalist and feminist. Her bestselling book, Troll Hunting, came out in 2019. This article first appeared at broadagenda.com.au.
