Victim-survivors of workplace sexual harassment in Australia will now be able to seek justice more easily and pursue legal action against perpetrators without fear of financial ruin, thanks to new federal legislation fought for by unions.
The federal government’s Cost Protection Bill, which recently passed through the Senate, removes one of the main deterrents that victim-survivors face when considering court action – the risk of being burdened with the other side’s legal costs, which can lead to significant debt or bankruptcy.
