Queensland's new Sexual Harassment prevention plan compliance

From March 2025, employers in Queensland, Australia, must consult with employees in preparing a comprehensive plan to prevent workplace sexual harassment.  

HR Policy Global view: Most Australian employment and labour regulations operate federally, with exceptions like Workplace Health and Safety legislations. Queensland leads with specific Work Health and Safety provisions, mandating sexual harassment prevention plans. Other states may follow. Businesses operating across multiple states should view Queensland's measures as a high-water mark, evaluating the benefits of implementing similar strategies across their Australian operations. 

What has changed? Effective March 1, 2025, there is a requirement to prepare and implement a prevention plan to address specifically identified risks in the individual workplace. 

The Prevention Plan must be in writing and identify each risk relevant to the organisation.  Organisations must identify control measures which can be (or have been) implemented and set out a procedure for dealing with reports of inappropriate or risky conduct. 

Employee involvement is key.  Employees must be consulted in the development of the plan, and the plan must be written and shared in a way which is accessible to the company’s employees.  As such, companies must consider their demographics, including gender, age, literacy and language of their population when developing the plan. 

While the plan does not need to be lodged with an authority, it must be reviewed at least every three years, or after a report of unlawful harassment, or upon request from a health and safety committee or representative.   

Employer takeaways