laws in australia

The Australian government has significantly failed to curb the sexual harassment cases faced by employees in their work environment. The cases reached a crescendo in 2020 when it was discovered that every 1 in 3 public servants was sexually harassed in Australia. (Karp, 2021) According to the commonwealth of Australia constitution 1901, any unwelcome advances physical or vocal fall in the category of sexual harassment. Even a working environment which sexually premeditated or hostile in nature also amounts to sexual harassment. In harassment related to the workplace, the employers will be vicariously liable for the complaints until they can prove that they took all the reasonable steps. Workplaces along with education were one of the first places recognized by legislators as a place of sexual misconduct which needed protection. This article attempts to explain the concept of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace and the laws regulating the same in Australia.