These two men want an extra hurdle for sexual harassment claims. It will cost millions
Liberal upper house leader Damien Tudehope and Latham have jointly written amendments to the government's workers' compensation bill, proposing changes to the definition of sexual harassment as well as axing claims made for excessive work demands and vicarious trauma.
The move has heaped pressure on the Liberals for teaming up with Latham, who has been accused of domestic violence against his ex-partner, which he emphatically denies, as well as inappropriate workplace behaviour, including taking photos of female MPs. He has apologised to the women.
Under the Tudehope-Latham amendments, a person who makes a sexual advance towards a colleague would need to have known, or should have known, that the advance was unwelcome.
Treasury secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter asked the state insurer icare, on behalf of Tudehope, to prepare costings for the amendments. Analysis shows that the private sector scheme, known as the nominal insurer, would be almost $800 million worse off under the pair's proposed changes.
The costings, which have been provided to Tudehope, show that the government bill would save the nominal insurer between $4.31 billion and $4.41 billion over the four years to 2029, while the amendments would lead to smaller savings of between $3.53 billion and $3.63 billion.
Loading
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has insisted that changes to the definition of sexual harassment would still protect workers from 'ignorant bigots' but wouldn't necessarily allow employees to claim compensation if a colleague 'makes a pass' at them.
However, the analysis from icare said the 'amendments will require intent of the perpetrator to harm to be established by an injured worker before compensation for a primary psychological injury caused by bullying, racial and sexual harassment may be paid'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
5 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Tasmania's post-election uncertainty drags on, Jeremy Rockliff seeks re-commission
Tasmania's post-election uncertainty drags on, Jeremy Rockliff seeks re-commission Published 5 August 2025, 8:13 am More than a fortnight on from the Tasmanian election, it remains unclear which party will govern the state for the next four years. Liberal incumbent Jeremy Rockliff says he'll visit the governor this week to ask for his team to be re-commissioned. Labor leader Dean Winter says it's unclear if his opponent will have the confidence of the house with no agreements yet in place with crossbench MPs
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
NSW politics must be rid of pestilent rapist MP
Politician and convicted rapist Gareth Ward is sitting in Silverwater jail while brazenly refusing to quit his leather seat in the NSW Upper House, an unashamed, unrepentant and immovable object who continues to soil public life even from behind bars. The MP for Kiama since 2011 and a former Liberal minister-turned independent, Ward was found guilty last month of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man at his Shoalhaven home on the South Coast in 2013 three times and having sexual intercourse without consent with a 24-year-old political staffer in Potts Point in 2015. The 44-year-old's bail was revoked last Wednesday, but he refuses to leave his upper house seat and in a bizarre twist, his lawyers have sought an injunction against the leader of the lower house, Ron Hoenig, and Speaker Greg Piper to stop his expulsion from parliament. Premier Chris Minns confirmed the government would seek an urgent Supreme Court hearing 'to address the matter' to overturn the court's injunctive order ruling. Ward will not be sentenced until September 19. Prosecutor Monika Knowles told the court the day he was convicted that the seriousness of his crimes virtually guaranteed a custodial sentence. But, that may not be the end of the matter: bizarrely, the length of his sentence could impact on his ability to retain his parliamentary seat. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MP's seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of crime that is punishable by five years or more in prison, although under changes to the law in 2000, conviction is considered to mean 'once you have reached the end of the appeals process, if you choose to appeal, and not had the conviction overturned'. Ward's persistence in keeping his seat has upended the concept of workplace safety and, under the current rules, turned the NSW Parliament into the only workplace in Australia where a convicted rapist is free to keep their job. After his convictions, we called for Ward's resignation and wondered if, should he not be expelled by parliament, suspension would surely follow. The outcome will be decided by the court now, but the upshot is that he cannot adequately represent his electorate while he exhausts all legal options. Ward's grim and thoughtless determination to hold on to his parliament seat and pay packet displays an arrogant contempt for the people of Kiama who voted for him, and a brutal indifference to the harm caused to victims of sexual assaults by a perpetrator allowed to keep the spoils of his public office while stubbornly prolonging the inevitable. Clearly, politicians on all sides need to address the anomaly exposed by Ward's refusal to leave public life: that is, in NSW, as things stand, only five years' jail is a sackable offence. If the Kiama MP is not flouting the rules, it is clear the rules need to be changed.
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
Power hangs in the balance after snap poll
Tasmania has officially announced the results of its snap election, with declaration of the poll ceremonies held across the state on Tuesday morning. The events confirmed the 35 elected members of the House of Assembly with the final election writs expected to be returned to Governor Barbara Baker this week. Under the Constitution Act, Premier Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal ministry can remain in place for another week from that date, though an interim cabinet could be sworn in if no governing arrangement is reached. Premier Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal ministry can remain in place for a week after the election writs are returned to the Governor. NewsWire/ Nikki Davis-Jones Credit: News Corp Australia Two weeks of counting have wrapped up with no clear majority. The Liberals secured 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens 5, and six went to independents and minor parties. The final seat, in Bass, was won by independent George Razay by just 674 votes over Labor's Geoff Lyons. The result leaves both major parties short of the 18 seats needed for a majority. To form government, the Liberals require support from four crossbenchers, Labor needs the Greens plus three others. Mr Rockliff has indicated he's prepared to govern in minority without formal confidence-and-supply agreements. 'Tasmanians have spoken. We have 14 seats, by far the most seats and while I would welcome individual members of parliament signing confidence and supply, we don't need that to form a minority government,' he said on Sunday. 'The political games need to stop and we have to get on with the job.' Mr Rockliff said on Sunday he would seek recommissioning of his government from the Governor. Labor leader Dean Winter is still hoping to form government. NewsWire / Richard Jupe Credit: News Corp Australia The snap election followed a dramatic no-confidence motion in June that ended Mr Rockliff's previous term, returning Tasmanians to the polls for the second time in 16 months. Labor leader Dean Winter claimed the botched rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state of the budget and the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium project were examples of Mr Rockliff's failed leadership.
