Legislation to put the onus on employers to eliminate discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace will be introduced to the South Australian parliament.
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The move by the Greens follows two reports which found harassment is widespread in both the SA parliament and across the state's legal profession.
Revealing the extent of the problem among lawyers and the judiciary this week, Acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner Steph Halliday called for law changes to enforce employers to take action to prevent and eliminate such issues.
"We know that we have a serious problem," Greens upper house MP Tammy Franks said.
"We know that for many, the workplace is not a safe place and that they don't have adequate options for recourse. This has to change.
"The behaviour described in these reports is disturbing and appalling. As a parliament, we have a duty to ensure it stops."
After taking more than 600 survey responses and other submissions, Ms Halliday said 42 per cent reported experiencing sexual or discriminatory harassment with 69 per cent of those opting not to report the incidents.
The unwanted behaviour ranged from suggestive comments or jokes to touching, hugging and kissing and even pressure for sex.
Among the experiences shared by the review's participants, one involved repeated lewd, inappropriate, and harassing remarks made by a magistrate and another involved a sexual assault by a former judge.
In a further incident, a judicial officer told a woman "I would like to throw you down on the floor and f*** you now, I love strong women".
The report also related the experience of a lawyer who was sent lewd text messages by a magistrate while a court case was in progress.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the report, which included 16 recommendations, would provide a blueprint for reform by both the government and the profession.
"This review is an unpleasant read, but a crucially important document," Ms Chapman said.
"The extent and nature of harassment within the legal profession is alarming and must be addressed."
As well as law changes, Ms Halliday's report also called for better training for both lawyers and judicial officers and for the Legal Professional Conduct Commissioner to be given more power to crack down on unwanted behaviour.
Australian Associated Press
