As part of the Stronger Together meeting agenda WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr John Byrne spoke to the group about the review of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, highlighting priority areas for the group.
Dr Byrne said the Commission's priority areas included, but were not limited to, changes to the sexual harassment provisions to remove the proof of disadvantage to the complainant, adding domestic violence as a ground under the Act and to change the onus of proof from the complainant to the respondent.
"Shifting the onus of proof is very important in addressing unconscious bias.
"If a woman is going for a job against a room full of men and she is told she did not get the job because of merit, then shifting the onus onto the respondent to show that it was merit not bias could, in many cases, be effective" Dr Byrne said
