Expanded Definitions for Sexual Offence Proceedings under Work Health and Safety Law
Workplace Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (No 2)
Topics
employer insurance sexual assault sexual harassment workers compensation workplace health and safety workplace injury
Introduced by: The Hon Michael Pettersson MLA (ALP) — Minister, Minister for Business, Arts and Creative Industries, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Skills, Training and Industrial Relations
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Andrew Braddock GRN
“I would also like to extend my apologies. I would haveliked to debatethis bill beforelunch,but unfortunatelywewerenot able toachieve that. The Greens will be supporting the motion to split the bill into two separate bills. I thank all parties here for their engagement. I also thank Mr Pettersson and his office for the briefing that he provided to us in advance of this bill.”
Ed Cocks LIB
“I will not speak for long. Mr Braddock has made many ofthepoints that Iwould makearoundthetimingofurgent matters versus matters that do not have a specific timeline attached, regarding when they need to be implemented.”
Chris Steel ALP
“I table the following paper: ACT Population Projections—Ministerial statement, dated 2 September 2025. Statements by members Mr John Hooke—departure”
Peter Cain LIB
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge John Hooke, my recently departed senior adviser. John joined my team—aka The Cain Train—in April 2022 as an adviser and quickly showed that he was hardworking, intelligent, easy to work with and had a wisdom well beyond his years. By May 2023, he became my senioradvisor,leadingwithcompassionandmakingarealdifferenceinourofficeevery single day.”
Shane Rattenbury GRN
“Last night I attended a screening of a documentary about incest—the film was called Such a resounding silence—followed by apanel ofspeakers, including JoshByrnes and GraceTame.MinisterStephen-Smith and Ms Barry were also in attendance at the event, as well as former member Ms Vassarotti.”
Jo Clay GRN
“The ANU has said there will be no more forced redundancies, and that is welcome, but we need to go further and restore the School of Music so that it is building and supporting our future musicians; otherwise we will lose that talent, those skills, the culture and our musical community. Music is really powerful.”
MR SPEAKER
“With members’ indulgence, as the patron of Rostrum ACT, I want to remark that I attended the Rostrum ACT 54th annual primary schools public speaking competition, which was held last night at Canberra College in Woden. I want to congratulate the winners. Penelope Chipman from Chapman primary took out the big award, ahead of Rylan Gleeson from Sacred Heart.”