The Government responded to the Enough is Enough report in September 2022, providing its support, or in principle support, to all 15 recommendations within its responsibility to implement.
Progress on the Government’s response to the Enough is Enough report recommendations was presented to Parliament in November 2022 and in the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s 2022–23 Annual Report in September 2023.
Since then, the Government has delivered a range of initiatives, including establishing support services, promoting awareness, strengthening internal regulatory capabilities and providing education and guidance to support workplaces to eliminate inappropriate behaviours. A number of these initiatives have been supported by the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program which commenced in 2022 to address mental health, workplace culture and safety issues in the Western Australian mining industry.
It is now two years since the release of the Enough is Enough report and the Government’s achievements in response to the recommendations are now either complete, in advanced stages of completion, or integrated into usual business and operating practices. Given the above, this report presents the final progress update from the WorkSafe Group (WorkSafe) of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
While this is WorkSafe’s final progress report on the recommendations, many of the programs and practices put in place are ongoing, seeking to drive positive change to address sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
It is recognised that while the Enough is Enough report recommendations focus on removing gender-based risks in the mining industry, unacceptable behaviours and attitudes continue to present risks to workers in all industry sectors and the broader community. These risks are reflected in one in six Australian women having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous partner since the age of 15, and 37 per cent of homicide and related offences in Western Australia were family and domestic violence related in 2022. These figures indicate the widespread harm of gender-based violence in the community.
Reducing the risks and driving societal change will require the continued commitment and engagement of government, industry, employers, employees, and the broader community, working together to drive cultural change and respect across all workplaces.
WorkSafe, on behalf of the Government, remains committed to continuing to support workplaces and the broader community to drive long lasting change to provide safe and healthy workplaces for all in Western Australia.