Unions welcome vital new era of protection and safety for Queensland workers

Queensland Unions have hailed today’s passing of Respect at Work legislation as a historic milestone for workers’ physical, mental and emotional safety, placing a crucial onus on every Queensland employer to stamp out sex-based harassment and discrimination in workplaces.

Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Jacqueline King said today’s introduction of Respect at Work reforms means every worker in industries across the state can now rightfully expect their employer to actively enforce measures that ensure their safety and protection from discrimination, intimidation and harassment while at work.

“Today we usher in a new era of what it looks like for workers to be safe and respected in their place of employment, with reforms that reflect modern community views that sex-based harassment and discrimination directed at any person in the workplace is totally unacceptable,” Ms King said.

Ms King said the Respect at Work reforms passed in Parliament are some of the most fundamental improvements to workers’ safety Queenslanders have seen in some time, entrenching measures that will positively impact generations of future employees.

“These new laws raise the bar for workers everywhere and affirm the widely held assumption that in a modern society, no person should ever be subjected to discrimination based on their sex, age, race, gender identity or impairment, and the threat of intimidation or discrimination because of who they are as a person is completely unacceptable and unlawful.

“Shockingly, we’ve heard too many stories throughout this campaign where workers, particularly women, have been subjected to deliberate intimidation and harassment, with the impact of this harm affecting not only their mental and physical wellbeing, but also their ability to attend their place of employment and perform their duties of work,” Ms King said.

Stories, including those of Natasha Lamont, a previous employee at a large mining corporation, who experienced first-hand the brutal impact and backlash of sex-based bullying, harassment and discrimination in her male-dominated workplace.

“It’s awful to look back on, but the reality is I fell apart as a result of the pervasive toxic masculinity and misogyny targeted towards me and other women colleagues,” Ms Lamont said.

“My experience was one where unwanted sexual comments were made by men towards me, on top of ongoing sex-based discrimination, and if I called this behaviour out to my supervisor or superior, I was left with the constant fear of retribution and further intimidation.

“The boys are untouchable culture infiltrated everything, from being told to stay off the tools, you’re a women and don’t have what it takes, to bigger things like overtly sexual comments, even assault. It extended to my colleagues, who experienced similar intimation and sex-based discrimination, but were too scared to speak out. These workplaces can be breeding grounds for fear and power, which is why these new laws are so vital to ensure change,” she said.

Ms King said the bedrock of any fair community and respectful working arrangement relies on freedom from discrimination and harm and the peace of mind that comes from knowing an employer takes seriously their duty of care to their employees, which extends to having their back when it comes to protecting workers from a hostile workplace environment.

“These historic reforms we welcome today have been realised off the back of intense campaigning by brave union members across Queensland, speaking out, petitioning the government and using their collective strength in the most fundamental way – to stand up for each other’s safety and respect.”

Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Secretary Sarah Beaman also welcomed the new laws, saying nurses, midwives and carers are a predominantly female workforce who should and must be safe in the workplace.

“A major reform under this bill is the introduction of a positive duty for employers to ensure measures are in place to prevent, as far as possible, discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation – before it occurs, Ms Beauman said.

“We know members have, and continue to, experience very serious and harrowing assaults while providing care in the workplace. In some instances, members have been forced to remain in unsafe environments due to employers’ refusal to properly address, report and or investigate these incidents. Members have reported this failure respond as worse than the horrific assault itself.

“Embedded prevention measures, like those outlined in this bill, will help stop abuse and discrimination from occurring, as well as ensuring any incidents that do occur are properly reported and addressed,” she said.

The 2020 Respect at Work Report found one in three workers experienced sexual harassment in the previous five years, of which half were repeated. Under the Respect at Work reforms, there is a new sex-based harassment offence and an offence of cretin a hostile workplace on the grounds of sex.

Ms King said Queensland Unions applaud the Miles Labor Government’s conviction for embedding these reforms and legislating a duty for all employers to enforce measures beyond a simple complaints mechanism to prevent discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation, as well as hostility on the grounds of sex.

“While we welcome and celebrate this legislation and the impact it will have in positively shifting workplace culture, particularly when it comes to women’s experiences in the workplace, we’re also reminded today that all we’ve fought to achieve for Queensland workers’ safety is in grave danger should an LNP government take power later this year.

“We’re yet to really understand how the leader of the Opposition would respond to working people’s experiences with sexual discrimination and issues of respect, but my gut feeling based on previous experience is, given the opportunity to pass these landmark reforms today and Mr Crisafulli would have run the other direction rather than stand up for every day working Queenslanders.”

ENDS