A Ministerial Taskforce on workplace sexual harassment is to be established as part of plan to stamp out workplace harassment in Victoria.
Acting Premier James Merlino said the Taskforce would develop reforms to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the work place.
“A key initiative of this reform program will be starting consultation on a mandatory incident notification scheme that would require employers to notify WorkSafe of workplace sexual harassment,” Mr Merlino said.
“According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, one in three people have been sexually harassed at work in the past five years – highlighting the urgent need to tackle this pervasive workplace health and safety problem,” he said.
Mr Merlino said the Taskforce would consider ways to strengthen the occupational health and safety framework to address sexual harassment; clarify employer obligations to boost accountability; encourage and support workers to speak up; and consider measures to prevent the misuse of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment matters.
The Acting Premier said the Taskforce would be co-chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary for Workplace Safety, Bronwyn Halfpenny and Chair of the Equal Workplaces Advisory Council, Liberty Sanger.
“It will include union, employer and legal representatives, and will deliver its advice to the Government later this year,” he said.
