The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released practical guidance on how to comply with the new positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).

In December 2022, a new positive duty (similar to work health and safety laws) was introduced, requiring organisations to positively take steps to eliminate, so far as possible, unlawful behaviour including:

• discrimination on the ground of sex in a work context;
• sexual harassment in connection with work;
• sex-based harassment in connection with work;
• conduct creating a workplace environment that is hostile on the ground of sex; and
• related to acts of victimisation.

The practical actions that the AHRC expects organisations to take are set out in its new guidance material.

The actions are categorised into seven standards:

1. leadership;
2. culture;
3. knowledge;
4. risk management;
5. support;
6. reporting and response; and
7. monitoring, evaluation and transparency.

All organisations should review and incorporate these guidelines into their current work practices, and ensure that staff are trained in these new laws.