The Coalition will continue working with Upper House MP Mark Latham in New South Wales on amendments to a workers’ compensation bill that would change the definition of sexual harassment.
The proposed amendments have been jointly written by Liberal MP Damien Tudehope and Latham and could prevent employees from claiming compensation if they have been subjected to unwanted sexual advances.
Under the amendments, an accused person would have to know or reasonably know that their sexual conduct was “unwelcome”. This would put the burden on victims to prove their perpetrator intended to harm them.
The amendments were written before it was revealed by the media that Latham had been accused of domestic violence by his former partner Nathalie Matthews in court documents. Latham has denied the claims and said he will defend himself in court.
Since then, it has also emerged that Latham sent messages with photos and comments about the appearance of a number of female MPs in the NSW parliament. Latham has apologised to the women.
The government’s workers’ compensation bill has passed the lower house but has now been referred to a committee for further scrutiny. The government’s bill takes the victim’s opinion into account on sexual harassment matters.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, costings prepared by the treasury secretary for Tudehope show the nominal insurer would be almost $800 million worse off under the proposed changes from the Coalition and Latham.
In a statement, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said Tudehope’s and Latham’s plan is “the worst of both worlds”
“Workers get less protection. Businesses will have to pay higher premiums,” Mookhey said in a statement on Friday.
“Worse, the Tudehope-Latham amendments will force every victim of sexual harassment, racial harassment and bullying making a claim to prove their perpetrator deliberately wanted to hurt them.
“Small businesses and injured workers deserve better. Every day Mr Tudehope and Mr Latham block reform, the scheme gets worse.
“The sooner we enact reform, the sooner we can get on with stopping psychological injuries in the workplace, rather than expending vast sums compensating for injuries which could have been prevented.”
Opposition leader Mark Speakman said this week Latham’s behaviour in parliament has been “deplorable”, but insisted the Coalition would continue to work with him on the amendments.
“I would not for a moment condone the reprehensible behaviour of Mr Latham,” he said, as reported by the ABC.
“But they’re the cards with which we’ve been dealt.”
“Sometimes you’ve got to hold your nose.”