According to the recent Personal Safety Survey (PSS), it was found that five million women aged 18 years and above in Australia had been a victim of sexual harassment in the past, with 2.2 million men stating they suffered the same. 

Upon further analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), it was revealed that 53% of women and 25% of men have been a victim of sexual harassment at least once in their lifetime. The survey defined sexual harassment as an incident when a person has experienced or been subjected to one or more selected behaviours which they found improper or unwanted.

Among several findings, one that stood out was that younger people as well as those who have difficulties meeting basic living expenses, were more likely to be victims of sexual harassment. 

The most common incident of sexual harassment behaviour against women, as shared by CoWill Milne, ABS Director of the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics, was inappropriate comments about their body or sex life. The most common incident of sexual harassment for men was unwanted touching. Milne further highlighted that 30% of women and 14% of men who experienced sexual harassment also suffered from sexual assault.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) reportedly stated that the data from ABS reveals the reality faced by millions of women in their workplaces. 

Commenting on the findings, ACTU president Michele O'Neil said that the federal government has immense power to address these issues and this government has been presented with multiple reports and dozens of recommendations. She added, “Australian women deserve a government which is willing to act to improve their lives.”

The Union recommended four ways to address the issue of workplace sexual harassment. The four recommendations are:

• Amend the Sex Discrimination Act to place a positive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work
• Expressly prohibit sexual harassment and introduce a new quick and easy complaints process in the Fair Work Act
• Empower the Sex Discrimination Commissioner to initiate her own enquiries into systemic sexual harassment and sex discrimination
• Develop a WHS Code of Practice on preventing sexual harassment at work

While the corporate world did strive to eliminate sexual harassment through legal mechanisms and organisational committees such as POSH, the on-ground reality remains very different from their zero-tolerance policies. Beyond the ACTU recommendations, as the survey revealed, workplace safety needs to be fostered for all genders to ensure a psychologically and physically safe work environment for all. 

Given the vulnerability of various employee segments to fall prey to such harassment and discrimination, the need for strigent measures, serious consequences for offenders, and an authentic, transparent and fair redressal system for the victim needs to be prioritised as employers rebuild workplace culture.