Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637267662.pdf (Australia)
RioTinto Committee Secretary Senate Education and Employment committees PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 By email: eec.sen@aph.gov.au 19 July 2021 Dear Secretary Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill Rio Tinto welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill (the Bill).
Rio Tinto acknowledges that the Bill enacts some recommendations arising from the Respect@Work Report which is the product of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces (the Inquiry).

The Inquiry examined the nature, prevalence, and drivers of sexual harassment in Australian Workplaces and identified measures to address and prevent sexual harassment.

Rio Tinto acknowledges that sexual harassment can cause profound physical, emotional, and psychological impacts on those affected.
However, many aspects of the Respect@Work Report prompted real self-reflection for the business, most significantly, the underreporting of sexual harassment incidents and risk factors and the extent of ongoing trauma.

While the Inquiry included some sobering and disappointing findings, Rio Tinto’s view is that this landmark Inquiry has made a very important contribution to highlighting the prevalence of sexual the workplace.
The Respect@Work Report also contained a number of harassment recommendations, including legislative reform and helpful workplace recommendations.

in Rio Tinto is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace, every day, for everyone.

We acknowledge that, sadly, some of our people have experienced sexual harassment.

This is unacceptable and we need to disrupt current systems and processes to help make lasting cultural change.
Given safety is Rio Tinto’s top priority, we considered there was and remains a pressing imperative to act irrespective of any Government or legislative intervention.

Rio Tinto has been focused on improving respectful behaviours generally across its global operations.

However, after consideration of the matters raised in the Respect@Work Report, and at the instruction of the Board and Executive Committee we have established the Everyday Respect Taskforce.
Through this Taskforce we are taking a multifaceted approach to critically examine and challenge current systems and processes.

This is to create an environment where this behavior is prevented and does not occur and, if it does, those affected feel safe in reporting it and supported as they seek to heal.
Through this program we intend to leverage our strengths in effectively managing safety to address this issue by focusing on the prevention of sexual harassment in our workplace, in the same way we would seek to eliminate hazards by utilising a proactive risk based approach.

Rio Tinto Services Limited.

Registered office Level 7, 360 Collins Street Melbourne 3000, Australia.

Registered in Australia ABN 62 004 219 738.


Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021Submission 46 The work is being informed by findings from the Respect@Work Report, external expertise, including former Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Liz Broderick, best practice research and our employees lived experience.

We are currently undertaking a "discovery" exercise which includes a number of elements but critically learning from our employees lived experiences.
That will help shape and refine our internal processes to form an effective and sustainable solution .

We know that we are on a journey.
We have set about a program of work that will create an environment that is people centric and ensures that, where workers have concerns: everyone is confident and able to speak up (including bystanders); we have more and better support mechanisms for people when they need help and minimise impacts of trauma (including early intervention options); people's health and welfare is at the centre of our response which is managed by skilled professionals; and we have transparent reporting .
We observe that there are already positive duties within applicable safety legislation on persons conducting a business or undertaking, as well as on workers.

Rio Tinto considers the fact that sexual harassment has not traditionally been treated as a safety issue, is a significant factor as to why this has not been an effective driver of change to date.
Rio Tinto strongly believes that characterising and treating sexual harassment as a safety issue, consistent with the modernising of national model health and safety legislation, will have a more significant impact on lessening and ultimately preventing sexual harassment in the workplace as well as ensuring better support to impacted people.

We support the amendments contained within the Bill.
The Respect@Work Report found that existing legal and regulatory frameworks for addressing workplace sexual harassment are complex and difficult to navigate.

Given the myriad of State and Federal legislation that touches on the topic, we agree with this conclusion.

While legislation has a critical role to play, we also understand the role that we have to play in sustainable change within Rio Tinto.
We recognise that implementing the workplace recommendations from the Respect@Work Report (for example improved education and training and industry wide initiatives) is our contribution to ensuring that the changes are reflected culturally as well as legislatively.

Ultimately, we consider that any legislative frameworks must work harmoniously together in a way that is simple, victim centric, and focuses on prevention.
If you wish to follow up on any matters raised in this submission, please do not hesitate to contact Cecile Thaxter, Vice President Health Safety, Environment and Communities Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Yours faithfully Kellie Parker Chief Executive Australia Rio Tinto Services limited.

Registered office Level 7, 360 Collins Street Melbourne 3000, Australia.

Registered in Australia ABN 62 004 219 738.

Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021Submission 46