Praveen Menon, Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters – Australia’s #MeToo campaign is putting pressure upon mining and political leaders, who now face a reckoning for sexual harassment allegations that span from the Outback to Parliament House.

Within the last 18 months thousands of women exposed bullying and abuse at work in the mining sector, which is the nation’s main economic engine. This has prompted public outrage, and promises of swift action by politicians and executive leaders.

The situation is getting worse.

Political responses to allegations of workplace harassment are a major topic in the build-up of the May 21 national elections. In particular, accusations against the ruling conservative coalition of sexual impropriety or poor handling of an allegation of rape in Canberra have sparked a firestorm of controversy.

While mining companies prepare for publication of a Western Australia report into sexual harassment at operations within the state next month, it is expected that the report will focus on complaints against their internal processes.

Elizabeth Broderick (an ex-Australian sex discrimination officer) stated that survivors of sexual misconduct shouldn’t live in shame or fear anymore. “When one woman speaks out, all will listen.” All those involved in mining and resource sectors should listen to these stories and take action.

Six women were interviewed by Reuters who claimed they suffered harassment and bullying from Australian miners in the last 18 months. Most of these alleged incidents took place after Western Australia opened its widely publicized inquiry into the matter last August. It put pressure on the mining industry to take action.

Kylie-Jayne Schippers is a maintenance and kitchen staff member at a remote Adani Group mine. In December 2021 she was fired two days after filing a report of harassment and bullying. The complaint, which included allegations of sexual harassment, said that her fear of entering the communal dining area. Reuters reviewed copies of the letter.

Schippers made a formal complaint to Sodexo, her French contractor for services, on December 20. She stated that an unidentified person circulated a camp note, falsely claiming it was from her. The note offered sexual favors to a male engineer in return for favorable treatment.

According to Sodexo’s termination letter, she was terminated Dec. 22 for not following reasonable and legal managerial instructions. According to the letter, a review of her complaints concluded that there was no evidence of harassment or bullying.

Schippers (48) said she felt scared and had high levels of anxiety, as well as depression. She left the industry after the incident. “They have done nothing other than sweep it under a carpet and removed me from the equation so they don’t have to deal.

Sodexo claimed that Schippers’ claim was “immediately investigated before being solved” and that Schippers employment “was terminated later for reasons unrelated the grievance”.

Adani, now re-named Bravus its Australian unit, stated its staff had provided assistance to Schippers and made witness statements in Sodexo’s investigation. The company stated that since the investigation was closed, it now considered the issue “a matter for both the contractor” and “the employee”.

‘NO FEAR, SHAME, SILENCE’

The economy is based on mining. It accounts for approximately 11% of all national output. Western Australia provides more than half the world’s ironore.

However, the 150,000-strong workforce is dominated by – 56% – men. This gender balance hasn’t changed much since it was founded over 100 years ago.

Melissa McLellan was the maintenance supervisor at BHP Group in Western Australia. She claimed she had filed a complaint about gender discrimination in June 2021, after having been offered a higher position. According to documents and transcripts reviewed at Reuters, McLellan was then suspended for a “fitness for Work” assessment three days later. Her appearance, which she considered a risk for safety, led her to be removed from work.

McLellan (37), said that “it’s jobs for boys.” He quit McLellan in January, citing bullying. “You are second class.”

BHP stated that McLellan’s claims of harassment and bullying were quickly investigated and concluded to not be substantiated. McLellan’s allegations of bullying and harassment were investigated quickly by BHP spokesperson. They also said that they are committed to making people feel safe.

Reuters spoke with most of the women interviewed, McLellan, Schippers included. They said that their lawyers filed or were preparing for filing claims against the company in question at the Fair Work Commission. This is a tribunal national to address workplace discrimination.

FWC refused to comment on specific cases.

These cases represent just a small portion of the workforce. These cases are consistent with the Rio Tinto report (NYSE:), published February 1st by Rio Tinto on its culture. It detailed a climate of harassment, bullying and racism. CEO Jakob Stausholm called it “systemic”

Broderick was a former discrimination Commissioner. The review, which was informed by more than 10,000 employees’ experiences and opinions, revealed that close to 30% of women have experienced workplace sexual harassment. In addition, 21 women claimed they were subject to actual or attempted rape and sexual assault.

WOMENS VOTE TO THE FORE

Public scrutiny is focused on the country’s response to discrimination and sexual harassment.

Political commentators claim that a national outcry over discrimination and workplace harassment has contributed to a drop in support for Scott Morrison’s government. Equal rights campaigners and opposition politicians accuse the administration of being reluctant to make necessary reforms.

Female voters were equally divided in 2021 between the Labor Party and the government. According to https:// Roy Morgan, less than 40% women had planned to vote in April for Scott Morrison’s government.

Protests erupted across the country over an alleged case of parliament rape. A former employee was charged in March 2019 with sexually assaulting his colleague at a ministerial position. Morrison and government issued an apology public for their treatment of Australian women.

Former staffer refutes the allegations and will face the court case later in the year.

Equality advocates demand that mining companies be removed from their power to internal investigate allegations of bullying or sexual harassment. Instead, they want an independent oversight body.

Although the Sex Discrimination commissioner in 2020 recommended that harassment be stopped at workplaces, not all of them were implemented, the federal government responded and said existing laws should cover many kinds of complaints.

Minerals Council of Australia is an industry organization that supports the Australian Human Rights Commission’s power to investigate workplace sexual discrimination. However, it says these parameters must be carefully defined to avoid reputational harm and ensure procedural fairness.

A process for people to get a “stop sexual harassment” order – similar to a restraining order – from the Fair Work Commission against alleged offending parties in a workplace has proven ineffective since it began in November.

The program was launched in March and 17 applicants applied. However, no orders were issued. This is the first public disclosure of these figures by the Commission.

FWC spokesperson declined to discuss why the FWC hadn’t issued an anti-sexual harassment or order, but said that there were still some complaints open and could have been resolved without an order.

Karen O’Connell (University of Technology Law Professor) advised the government panel that created the orders. They were too strict because they didn’t intervene when the complainant quits or the accused harasser was transferred elsewhere within the company.

O’Connell said that although stop-sexual harassment orders still have a place and are important. However, these laws aren’t going to address the majority of sexual harassment cases. O’Connell added that it would be better to have legislation that imposes a “positive obligation” on employers to ensure a safe working environment.

“It is absurd to ask an individual for help and to assume all the responsibility.”

($1 = 1.4370 Australian dollars)