Overview
- The Queensland government has indefinitely delayed the implementation of positive duty workplace harassment reforms originally set to begin on July 1, 2025.
- Attorney-General Deb Frecklington cited the need for further consultation and policy work as the reason for the pause, sparking backlash from advocates and legal experts.
- Brittany Higgins criticized the delay, arguing it jeopardizes workplace safety and reflects a lack of commitment to addressing women’s concerns.
- The reforms, passed by the former Labor government in 2024, were a key recommendation of a 2022 Queensland Human Rights Commission review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.
- Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall contended that claims of insufficient consultation were misleading, noting extensive prior stakeholder engagement.