SA Unions welcome the release of the Royal Commission’s report into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence. The report highlights the pervasive nature of gendered violence across South Australia and outlines crucial recommendations to address it.
The report’s findings confirm the serious impact that domestic, family, and sexual violence has on victim-survivors and demands a comprehensive response from employers and policymakers.
SEXUAL HARASMENT POSITIVE DUTY
The report’s findings confirm the urgent need for a stronger workplace response to gendered violence. SA Unions are specifically calling on the state government to follow the lead of the federal government and implement a positive duty on employers. This would require employers to proactively take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace.
The report also highlights several other critical recommendations for workers, including:
When one in four women experience some form of violence from an intimate partner, it’s clear we have a serious problem.
Family and domestic violence doesn’t stop at the front door. It follows people into their workplaces, affecting their safety and well-being. Safe and supportive workplaces make a huge difference to those escaping violence
The South Australian Government must enshrine a positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. Only 17% of those sexually harassed feel safe reporting it, so a positive duty is vital to drive change.
We need to see better support for workers to access paid domestic violence leave, better access to trained services, and a more responsive Workplace Health and Safety system especially on matters of psychosocial risk.