6 Agriculture and forestry operations often take place in environments marked by physical isolation, hierarchical structures, seasonal or contract-based labour, and diverse multicultural workforces. These factors can make workers more vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority. Employers therefore carry significant legal and operational duties to prevent and address harmful conduct in the workplace. The Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace (“the Code”) provides guidelines to all employers and employees on the prevention and elimination of all forms of harassment as a form of unfair discrimination in the workplace. Employers are required to provide a clear framework for such prevention and elimination measures, emphasising a zero-tolerance stance on harassment, discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes. The Code further provides an indication of what conduct amounts to harassment and discrimination and the different forms such conduct can take. Harassment is defined as unwanted conduct that Safe, Fair, Inclusive – Natasha Cluckie, Senior Legal Counsel – Your responsibilities as an Employer impairs dignity or creates a hostile environment, when linked to a prohibited ground such as race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, culture, language, or social origin. Employers in the agricultural and forestry environments must be especially alert to behaviours including verbal abuse, mockery of accents or cultural background, intimidation, exclusion, or misuse of power. Examples of offences include the misuse of authority, such as excluding an employee from work opportunities after refusing inappropriate requests or bullying. This behaviour undermines worker trust, morale, and safety. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that violates dignity. Given that forestry teams often work in remote or mixed-gender settings, persistent unwanted contact, inappropriate messages, or coercive advances may constitute sexual harassment and require immediate intervention. Racial and ethnic harassment remains a persistent risk in culturally diverse labour forces. The Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act emphasises the legal implications of hate speech and hate crimes.
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