Mining Body Vows to Eliminate Workplace Harassment

A national minerals body has vowed to improve workplace safety and eliminate sexual harassment in the Australian mining sector, following a damming inquiry.

The Minerals Council of Australia said a groundbreaking Australian Human Rights Commission Inquiry in 2020 highlighted the alarming rate of sexual harassment in mining.

The report found that 40 per cent of the minerals industry workforce had experienced some form of sexual harassment in the past five years. This is significantly higher than the all-industries rate of 31 per cent.

The report also found that women were more than twice as likely to be sexually harassed than men.

“This harassment is unacceptable and illegal. The people in our industry are our greatest asset and must be valued, respected and protected,” the MCA said in a statement.

The MCA said it supports the approach by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins that workplace sexual harassment is not inevitable or acceptable, and is preventable.

“Through committed leadership, we will develop an industry response that recognises and prevents sexual harassment and empowers people to speak up and take action where behaviours do not meet expected standards.”

“To implement this statement, an industry code and toolkit are being developed and will establish clear expectations and protocols on preventing and responding to sexual harassment in our workplaces.”

Following the release of Commissioner Jenkins’ report, the MCA established a Respect@Work Taskforce to broaden its safety and health policy and develop a commitment to eliminating sexual harassment.