This Month
Lecturer sacked for hugs and suggesting student start OnlyFans
University of Tasmania academic Sisitha Jayasinghe unsuccessfully challenged his termination over claims he bought Chanel perfume and gave lingering hugs to a post-graduate student despite her protests.
Dovetail boss says workplace relationship was an error, denies assault
The chief executive of the billion-dollar start-up has filed dozens of messages sent by his employee to support his claim they had a consensual relationship.
Social media giants face massive fines under proposed safety laws
If adopted by the Albanese government, the new penalties would likely affect platforms owned by Meta as well as TikTok, SnapChat, and Elon Musk’s X.
January
Meta must keep meddling state actors off Facebook: Jones
The assistant treasurer has warned the social media company its embrace of unfettered free speech must not pave the way for state actors to interfere in elections.
December 2024
Blake Lively turns the shame around
The actress is suing a Hollywood studio alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign. It may prolong the pain but the only way to end impunity is to speak up.
Sexual harassment class action to target BHP, Rio
The big miners’ efforts to attract more female employees have suffered a setback with the launch of sexual harassment class actions.
Nine’s Airlie Walsh sues network amid workplace culture fallout
The well-known television personality had worked on the Today breakfast program and as a political reporter for more than a decade.
November 2024
Elon Musk slams Albanese’s social media ban
The owner of X had a swing at the Australian government’s prohibition for children under 16 as he prepares to take a role in the Trump administration.
Government to pursue tech giants for social harm
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says Canberra will introduce a “digital duty of care” that could punish platforms for causing systemic trauma.
Lack of action on workplace harassment holds back productivity
Readers’ letters on the impact of anonymous harassment reports; the need for flexibility in the super system; fee-free university; Trump’s inflation danger; working-class voters; and climate obligations.
Social media ban doesn’t trust parents to raise their kids
If Canberra truly wanted to support families, it would invest in digital literacy rather than wielding a sledgehammer.
Lack of anonymous reporting channels fuels harassment underreporting
Victims of work-related sexual harassment do not have the option of reporting incidents anonymously at more than three in 10 large companies, research shows.
UK watchdog plans action against Crispin Odey over sexual misconduct
Hedge fund boss Crispin Odey was the subject of a series of assault claims in 2023 that plunged the firm he founded into turmoil.
October 2024
First, kidnapping the Wallabies; now tackling online bullying
The debate about stopping cyberbullying has so far centred around bans and age limits. This former spy has a different solution.
Sacking for offensive comments was wrong, tribunal rules
A mining worker fired for repeatedly taunting a colleague was judged to be unfairly dismissed as he was not properly trained in psychosocial safety policies.
‘No excuse’: Drunk worker fired for Qantas Lounge sex harassment
The fly-in fly-out worker had her unfair dismissal claim rejected, including that placing her head in a co-worker’s lap was “the usual inconvenience of public travel”.
September 2024
You can now control your teenager’s Instagram use
Users aged under 16 will soon find themselves in restricted “Teen Accounts”, giving guardians authority over the content they see on the social media app.
Social media bosses face jail if they fail to stop revenge porn
Britain is introducing tough new online safety laws that could see social media bosses punished for allowing deep fakes and revenge porn to be shared.
August 2024
Why haven’t the police investigated the doxxing of Jewish creatives?
We now know who leaked the names and comments in the WhatsApp group. But what about holding accountable those who used carriage services to menace and harass?
Energy transition needs more women, says Jobs and Skills head
Getting more women to become electricians and mechanics would help accelerate the transition to net zero, Australia’s top skills adviser says.