The Greens today today vowed to push the mining sector to undertake systemic reform to prevent violence against women on mining sites, as a landmark WA inquiry finds that the industry has failed to protect women.

The report finds that women in the industry “frequently have to deal with sexual harassment and sexual assault”, with many incidents “ignored or overlooked by employers”, and includes 24 recommendations.

Comments attributable to Senator Dorinda Cox, Australian Greens spokesperson for Resources:

The Greens have called on universities to take a zero tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment on campuses, after the results of the latest National Student Safety Survey revealed that many university settings remain unsafe and unsupportive of student survivors, especially young women.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters:

“It’s shocking how little has changed since the 2017 survey that formed part of the Human Rights Commission’s Change the Course report.

[Senator Waters' speech to the Senate on the Parliamentary Workplace Reform (Set the Standard Measures No. 1) Bill 2022]

The Greens support this Bill as a tiny step in the right direction by implementing two recommendations of the Set the Standards report.  There is still so much more to do, but this is a start.

The Greens have called on all parties to pledge an end to Australia’s culture of sexual violence, harassment and predatory behavior by committing to the three asks outlined by Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins in their joint address to the National Press Club today.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters:

The Greens have welcomed the parliament’s acknowledgement of the abuse and harassment experienced by staff in parliamentary workplaces, but have warned that words alone will not satisfy Australian women.

The Greens continue to urge the government to implement all 28 recommendations of the Set the Standard report, in addition to the remaining Respect@Work recommendations, particularly fully funding working women’s centres and the centrepiece reform of legislating a positive duty on employers.

As Queensland kids return to classrooms tomorrow, the Greens have pledged to keep them safe and healthy by fully funding comprehensive consent education and providing free period products from sustainable suppliers.

While most parents will rightly be focused on ensuring their children are protected from Covid-19, the Greens recognise that many schoolkids face other significant challenges, including sexual harassment and assault, and period poverty.

The Greens will:

The Greens have warned the government that Australian women expected them to swiftly and fully implement the recommendations of the Jenkins review, after the much-anticipated report into parliamentary workplace culture was tabled today.

The review, triggered after Brittany Higgins came forward with allegations that she had been raped in a minister’s office, makes 28 recommendations, including:

The government and One Nation have blocked crucial amendments from the Greens and Labor that would have implemented the centrepiece of the Respect@Work recommendations - a positive duty on employers to make workplaces safe.

The Greens have called on the PM to drop the veil of secrecy and release the review by Stephanie Foster into processes for responding to serious incidents at Parliament House.
 
Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said: 
 
“The Prime Minister’s description of what Ms Foster has recommended seems positive, but forgive me for not taking the PM’s word for it given his appalling track record on women’s equality and safety. 
 

The Greens have cautiously welcomed the Morrison government’s long overdue response to the Respect@Work recommendations, but say that the PM has a lot of work to do before Australians believe that he takes workplace safety seriously.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Larissa Waters said: