Sexual Harassment

Share Share Share Share
  Prev Article
Next Article  

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

The Act which applies to most cases of sexual harassment federally is the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.

You should note at the outset that the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 will protect you only against certain forms of sexual harassment. Not all inappropriate behaviour will be unlawful.

PRECONDITIONS

The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 has a special way of defining sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment occurs where one person:

  • makes an unwelcome sexual advance to another
  • or an unwelcome request for sexual favours
  • or engages in unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature towards the other person
  • in circumstances where a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated that the other person would have been offended, humiliated or intimidated.

    Sexual harassment often involves:

  • offensive, sex-based comments
  • unwanted touching
  • unwanted requests for sex
  • displaying sexually suggestive material such as posters, e.mails or screen savers.

    Sexual harassment is unlawful in the following areas:
  • employment
  • commission agencies
  • contract work
  • partnerships
  • common workplaces
  • qualifying bodies (bodies with power to grant occupational qualifications)
  • registered organisations(such as unions or employer associations)
  • employment agencies
  • educational institutions
  • provision of goods, services or facilities
  • accommodation
  • disposing or acquiring land
  • clubs
  • Commonwealth laws and programmes



    DISCLAIMER

    This Information Outline is available courtesy of AussieLegal's online legal information and law firm referral service.

    The information is provided by participating law firms. Accordingly, neither AussieLegal Pty Limited nor femail.com.au accepts any responsibility for loss, damage, cost or expense arising from using the information provided.

    As the information provided by participating law firms is of a general nature, the law firms accept no liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense that arises from relying on the information provided by them. The information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of it. This recognises that despite the participating law firm's best endeavours to provide up to date accurate legal information and documents, you may misunderstand or misinterpret instructions or advice.

    • MORE



    FEMALE.COM.AU

    CONTACT US

    FOLLOW US ON

    Copyright © 2001 - Female.com.au, a Trillion.com Company - All rights reserved.