The Government of Western Australia has launched a new initiative to address the major problem of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace in the mining industry.
An initial $1.9 million has been allocated to the new Mental Awareness, Respect, and Safety (MARS) program, which aims to address mental health, workplace culture, drug and alcohol use, and mine safety issues.
The initiative also aims go improve the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DMIRS) enforcement approach and protocols for dealing with sexual harassment and assault situations.
DMIRS is assessing whether corporations that have indicated non-disclosure of events in the present parliamentary probe should be penalized.
The MARS initiative will be managed by DMIRS in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission, the Equal Opportunity Commission, and the Minister of Women’s Interests.
“This $1.9 million funding allocation will support the first phase of the MARS program to address serious mental health, workplace culture and mine safety issues,” said Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston in a media release.
“The level of underreporting of sexual assault and harassment in the mining and resources sector is completely unacceptable. The McGowan Government is acting to ensure workers – especially those working on mine sites – are safe and protected at work,” added Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk.
