'Every worker in Australia's resource sector has a right to be treated with respect'
Australia's resources industry is being asked to make workplaces safer for women in a bid to boost their numbers amid challenges in finding more employees to work for the sector.
"The resources industry needs to take serious steps to increase female participation in the workplace," Resources Minister Madeleine King told the Western Australian resources sector during a roundtable in Perth.
Her call also came after the Enough is Enough report, which found that 74% of women in mining industry reported sexual harassment at work in the past five years. King, during the roundtable, slammed sexual harassment and assault in workplaces and called for its end.
"As minister, I will not stand for poor behaviour. Every worker in Australia's resource sector has a right to be treated with respect. Sexual harassment and sexual assault is abhorrent and has no place in any modern workplace. It must stop," she said.
According to the minister, she is looking forward to how companies are improving their culture for women following the findings of the Enough is Enough report.
"Governments and industry must work together to ensure we have safe and inclusive workplaces that welcome and encourage women to have rewarding careers in the mining sector," she said.
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Western Australia is regarded as the country's resources powerhouse, with government data revealing that it generated more than $230 billion worth of export income or around two-thirds of Australia's mineral and energy exports in 2021.
It also accounts for 10% of the country's gross domestic product, according to the government's report, and employs more than a quarter of a million Australians. Amid these figures, King said the task of finding more workers for the industry is already a challenge.
"The mining workforce is around all-time highs, and the challenge to find more workers is already here. From anthropologists to geologists, metallurgists to managers, there are immense opportunities to forge a career in the sector," she said.
"The government and industry must work together to find a way to attract the next generation of mining workers needed for Australia to produce the resources that the world needs to reach net zero."
Previously, the Western Australian government has called on companies in the industry to "step up" in protecting their employees from sexual harassment and assaults.
The WA government also appointed PwC workplace culture expert Elizabeth Shaw to review the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's processes in dealing with sexual harassment and assault in the mining industry.
"The appointment of an independent expert to examine the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's processes for handling these incidents will be invaluable and help drive the change that is required," said Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk.
