Sexual harassment and discrimination, the general protections and work health and safety

Some types of discrimination are unlawful under federal, state and territory laws dealing with human rights, anti-discrimination and equal opportunity. 

To find out more, visit: 

• the Australian Human Rights Commission website, which includes information about sex discrimination
• the human rights, anti-discrimination or equal opportunity commission in your state or territory: 
  • ACT Human Rights Commission
  • Anti-discrimination New South Wales
  • Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
  • Queensland Human Rights Commission
  • Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity [SA]
  • Equal Opportunity Tasmania
  • Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
  • Equal Opportunity Commission [WA]

If you think you’ve been sexually harassed because you have made a complaint or enquiry about your employment or because you have a workplace right, you might be able to apply for the Commission to deal with a general protections application.

Under model work health and safety laws, businesses and organisations must provide a safe workplace by making sure that people in their workplace are not exposed to health and safety risks. This includes risks of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can arise between workers and other people at the workplace, including customers and clients.   

To find out more, visit: 

• Fair Work Ombudsman for advice on sexual harassment in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia for information about work health and safety duties
• national regulator: Comcare
• the work health and safety authority in your state or territory: 
  • WorkSafe ACT 
  • SafeWork NSW 
  • NT WorkSafe 
  • Workplace Health and Safety Queensland 
  • SafeWork SA 
  • WorkSafe Tasmania 
  • WorkSafe Victoria 
  • WorkSafe WA