The independent federal agency has responsibility for policing a new legal obligation for business to prevent sexual harassment, which began in December. It is not hiding its objective, which is to use the power to change what it sees as entrenched gender bias.
“Intersectionality recognises that people’s lives are shaped by their identities, relationships and social factors,” the document says. “These combine to create intersecting forms of privilege and oppression depending on a person’s context and the existing power structures within society and within an organisation or business.”
Although there have been no published decisions by the commission, the law’s passage in 2022 triggered what it said was a record number of sexual harassment and sex-based harassment complaints. The commission was given extra funding to create a Respect@Work website, which advises victims to complain to the commission and other agencies.