Commissioner Dr John Byrne, former Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins and Minister for Women's Interests Hon Sue Ellery MLC
Dr Byrne participated in the panel discussion as the Equal Opportunity Commission is involved in Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program as a whole of government initiative to improve health, safety and wellbeing of workers in the mining industry.
Dr Byrne said the main issues discussed were how to increase diversity and make workplaces more inclusive for Aboriginal people, ethnically diverse people, the LGBTIQA+ community as well as gender diversity.
"One suggestion was to change selection processes to include more diversity on selection panels and an expectation that selection panels should search for candidates to ensure they had a diverse shortlist," he said.
Dr Byrne said he would like to see the mining industry continuing to make progress on many fronts.
"Prevention of sexual harassment is the key issue and requires changes to the culture on mine sites where it occurs.
"Also, care in recruitment to ensure new employees do not perpetuate inappropriate attitudes and, in the interim, much better management of inappropriate behaviours by employees," he said.
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