“It’s just a joke.”
“Don’t you get the Australian sense of humour?”
For many Australian workers, these are not harmless remarks—they’re tactics. Dismissive humour has become a cultural shield for abuse, a socially accepted way to excuse workplace sexual harassment and silence those most at risk.
Now, a landmark national report is lifting the lid on how this culture, coupled with systemic inequality, enables harassers and disempowers victims.
In a recent interview with The Back Cover, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody spoke candidly about the hidden ways power operates in Australian workplaces.
Drawing from the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Speaking from Experience report, she revealed how racism, ableism, visa dependency and job insecurity create a perfect storm for harassment to go unchecked.
“It’s that absolute combination of racism and sexism within the sexual harassment which makes the person doubt—‘Well, maybe I am…’ if they’re a new migrant—‘Oh, is this what it involves working in a workplace in Australia? Is that the Australian sense of humour?’”
She explains that common phrases like “It’s just a joke” or “Don’t you get the Aussie sense of humour?” are frequently used to dismiss or downplay harassment, causing individuals to question their own perceptions.
The report is based on the lived experiences of more than 300 workers across the country—many of them young, casually employed, or from racially and culturally marginalised communities.
What emerged was a clear picture of how harassers don’t just act alone—they thrive within systems that make it difficult, if not impossible, for survivors to speak out.
Dr Cody says harassment often goes unchallenged because many workers are forced to weigh their personal safety against job or visa security.
“If you know that you’re reliant on a supervisor to get another shift, or if you know that you might lose your temporary visa if you lose your job, or if you know that you have faced racism in trying to even get that job — then all of those factors… are going to impact on your ability to identify and also speak out against what is happening to you.”
A common thread in these experiences is the weaponisation of humour. Many victim-survivors reported being told they were overreacting, didn’t understand the joke, or needed to loosen up.
For some, especially those unfamiliar with Australian workplace culture, these comments created a deep sense of confusion and self-doubt.
“We heard over and over again the phrase: ‘Don’t you get the joke?’ It’s not just about someone making a comment—it’s about a whole culture that enables that kind of power play and makes the victim question themselves,” said Dr Cody.
This confusion is particularly pronounced among younger workers. Dr Cody notes that many begin working as early as age 14 or 15, with little knowledge of their rights.
“We don’t understand what a wage rate is, what an hourly rate is, what leave is, what our rights are at work—let alone what workplace sexual harassment is.”
To address this, the Commission recommends embedding workplace rights education into school curricula so young workers enter the workforce prepared to recognise and report unlawful behaviour.
The Speaking from Experience report outlines 11 key reforms, including amending the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to limit the use of non-disclosure agreements, boosting funding for specialist support services, and introducing civil penalties for employers who breach their Positive Duty to prevent harassment.
It also calls for respectful relationships and workplace rights education in schools, along with stronger accountability measures across all levels of employment.
While the report marks the final recommendation in the Commission’s Respect@Work agenda, first laid out in 2020, Dr Cody says the fight for change is far from over.
“Workers shouldn’t have to choose between their safety and their livelihood. Workplace sexual harassment can affect every part of life, and people who experience it often have the least amount of power: those in insecure work, who are younger, on temporary visas, facing racism, ableism, homophobia, language barriers and other forms of discrimination.”
“While it is a final crucial step in the Commission’s Respect@Work agenda, there is still plenty of work to be done. The report calls for real action, accountability, and cultural shifts for everyone to be safe and respected at work.”
The message is clear: Australia’s workplaces won’t be safe until we stop laughing off harm—and start confronting the systems that allow it to thrive.
