The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) welcomes the High Court of Australia’s announcement that it will immediately strengthen its policies and training to prevent incidents of sexual harassment, following an investigation upholding complaints against former High Court Judge Dyson Heydon.
“The complaints made against Mr Heydon detail serious misconduct involving repeated incidents of sexual harassment,” said ALA National President, Mr Andrew Christopoulos.
“It is a tremendous loss to the legal profession that several intelligent, capable women have discontinued their careers in the law due to the predatory behaviour of one man and a culture that did not enable them to make complaints or take action.
“We are particularly proud of the ALA’s immediate past president, Noor Blumer, who has come forward to share her own experience of harassment involving Mr Heydon. We respect her decision to tell her story and we are disappointed that the legal profession has not taken sufficient measures to prevent this abuse of power.
“It is a sobering reminder that the legal profession still has a long way to go to fully address sexual harassment in the workplace at all levels.”
