On 7 July 2021, the Western Australian Parliament’s Community Development and Justice Standing Committee (Committee) launched a formal inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry (Inquiry). Through the Inquiry hearings, it became apparent that there is a lack of reporting to DEMIRS of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the mining industry.
On 23 June 2022, the Committee tabled its report, Enough is Enough, into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry. The report makes 79 findings and 24 recommendations which are being considered by government.
The WA Government is fully committed to supporting the changes that need to occur to resolve the serious issue of workplace sexual harassment and sexual assault in the mining industry and tabled its response in Parliament on 22 September 2022 and a progress report on 29 November 2022.
The MARS Program has funded a range of initiatives to improve culture and respect in the mining industry, including several of Government’s Enough is Enough commitments.
Resources – culture of safety and respect
Treating someone with respect means that you interact with them in a way that shows that you care about their well-being and how they feel. When you respect someone, you treat them kindly and use good manners. Being respectful means you act in a way that shows care for how your actions may impact others.
We need to speak up and raise awareness about the importance of respect.
There are a range of support services to raise awareness of respect.
- 1800RESPECT National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service: a national telephone and online counselling and referral service. Phone: 1800 737 732.
- RESPECT. IT’S EVERYONE’S BUSINESS. To help facilitate change Chief Executive Women created Respect is Everyone’s Business.
- Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020).
- Implementing Respect@Work: WA State Government Progress Report 2021 Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces
Resources – sexual harassment and sexual assault
There are a range of support services for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault as well as support for perpetrators of violence to change their behaviour and for families that live in communities impacted by mining culture workplaces.
- Stop bullying and sexual harassment provisions orders allow for workers to make an application for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment at work. The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission now has parallel laws with the Fair Work Commission.
- Workers carrying out work for persons including sole traders, partnerships, public sector bodies and incorporated and unincorporated associations can make an application under the state legislation. New stop bullying and sexual harassment orders in the state industrial relations system allow individual public and private sector workers to make an application to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment at work. For more information see the fact sheet, and to make an application see Stop bullying or sexual harassment applications » Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (wairc.wa.gov.au)
- For constitutionally covered businesses and its workers, the federal legislation applies. For more information see Bullying, sexual harassment & discrimination at work - Fair Work Ombudsman and to make an application see Orders to stop bullying or sexual harassment (or both) at work | Fair Work Commission.
- Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline: provides telephone information and referrals for men who are concerned about their violent and abusive behaviours, and for male victims of family and domestic violence in Western Australia. Phone: 1800 000 599.
- Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline: provides support for women, with or without children, who are experiencing family and domestic violence in Western Australia (including referrals to women’s refuges). Phone: 1800 007 339.
- MensLine Australia: 24/7 support for men and boys dealing with family and relationship difficulties. Support for men who are concerned that their behaviour is hurting the people they care about. Phone: 1300 78 99 78.
- Sexual Assault Resource Centre: provides a range of free services to people affected by sexual violence. Phone: (08) 6458 1828 or free call 1800 199 888.
- Circle Green Community Legal is a community legal centre in WA providing state-wide specialist legal services in workplace and employment law, residential tenancy law, family and domestic violence, and humanitarian services aimed at assisting people who are otherwise disadvantaged in their access to legal services. Phone: (08) 6148 3636.
The Circle Green has provided advice on “What to do if you are being sexually harassed at work“, available at Sexual-Harassment.pdf (circlegreen.org.au)
- Victims of Crime support. Phone: (08) 9425 2850
- WA Police Sexual Assault Squad: Phone (08) 9428 1600.
Email: SexAssaultSquadSMAIL@police.wa.gov.au
SMS Assist© is a text messaging service for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech challenges, which can be used for contacting the WA Police Force and requesting non urgent assistance. To use SMS Assist© dial: 0403 277 478
