Full Description
Claims arising from sexual assault or harassment can be complex. The seminar will canvas the causes of action available to a person who has been sexually assaulted or harassed, including actions available under discrimination laws, common law and the law regulating WorkCover.
Discrimination laws prohibit, and the common law regulates through tort, some sexual harassment. State and federal Acts and the common law adopt different rules that attribute liability to employers for that conduct. The application of those rules can lead to an employer’s direct (primary), vicarious or accessorial liability. The contours of these rules of attribution will be discussed.
On 2 September 2021, the Federal Government’s Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 passed both houses of Parliament. It adopts six of the 55 recommendations made in last year’s Respect@Work:National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment report by the Australian Human Rights Commission. The reforms brought about by the Respect@Work legislation will be outlined.
