The Australian Workers Union has launched a scathing attack on both government and mining industry leaders for their continued failure to address sexual harassment in fly-in, fly-out operations, three years after a landmark report demanded urgent action.
Union Condemns Industry Inaction
Australian Workers Union senior legal officer Eunice Ong confronted hundreds of delegates at the WA Labor State Conference in Fremantle on Sunday, delivering a powerful indictment of what she described as systemic failure. Ms Ong revealed that mining companies had largely ignored the Respect in Mining program established following the 2022 Enough is Enough report into sexual harassment against women in FIFO mining jobs.
Only one company initially participated in the free 2023 pilot program, but withdrew before implementation citing 'competing priorities'. Ms Ong expressed outrage at this justification, stating that nothing should outweigh worker safety on mining sites.
Disturbing Case Highlights System Failure
Ms Ong shared a particularly alarming case that illustrates the industry's broken complaint processes. A woman who made a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor was subsequently fired when the supervisor made a counter-complaint, while the supervisor remained employed with the company.
"As unionists, we hear about these kinds of stories constantly, and I'm so frustrated that this continues deep into 2025," Ms Ong told the conference, with Premier Roger Cook seated just metres away.
The union lawyer directly challenged the government, stating that mining companies need to be mandated by legislation to implement safety measures that don't directly increase profits.
Personal Accounts Reveal Toxic Culture
Civil engineering student Olivia Stronach followed Ms Ong's address with her own disturbing experience working in FIFO operations. She described an isolating environment where male colleagues openly discussed visits to 'skimpy bars' and ogled women her own age.
"It was often quite uncomfortable to overhear conversations between the men I was working with talking about their outings the previous night to local skimpy bars, ogling women around the same age as me," Ms Stronach revealed.
She emphasized that women will never feel comfortable joining the mining industry until they can be confident about their safety at work.
Call for Government Intervention
AWU State Secretary Brad Gandy said the overwhelming response to the union's motion reflected the immense frustration felt by women and unions after two years without meaningful change.
"It is disappointing to see taxpayer dollars and government funding assigned to a program which appears to have little to no follow through and accountability," Mr Gandy stated.
The union's address received a standing ovation from conference delegates, signaling strong support for immediate government action to protect women in the mining industry.
