cover image: Tuesday 20 August 2024

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Tuesday 20 August 2024

19 Aug 2024

Tuesday 20 August 2024 Only 1 in 230,000 sexual harassment victims get to court The ACTU is looking forward to broad support across the Parliament for new laws that will ‘level the playing field’ to make it easier for victim-survivors of workplace sexual harassment to bring a legal case. [...] The ACTU is part of a broad coalition of over 85 organisations, the Power to Prevent coalition, including National Legal Aid and the Kingsford Legal Centre, advocating for the new costs model. [...] The Bill removes one of the biggest deterrents workers face when weighing up court action; the real risk they may be left paying the other sides’ legal costs, leading to significant debt or bankruptcy – which can often run to tens of thousands of dollars. [...] “It is heartening to see the Government listening to both victim-survivors and those organisations that work with the most disadvantaged to design a system that removes barriers to seeking redress from workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. [...] “This change is especially important for individuals in low-paid and precarious employment, which often translates to lower awards of compensation that are quickly eroded by legal costs in litigation.” Quotes attributable to Kingsford Legal Centre Director, Emma Golledge: “I think the whole nation was shocked by the Respect@Work Report and the high rates of sexual harassment in Australia.

Authors

Luisa Saccotelli

Pages
2
Published in
Australia

Table of Contents