The state government will move to protect South Australia’s hospitality workers and patrons from sexual harassment with mandatory industry-wide training.

It will consult with both industry and the broader community on the inclusion of bystander intervention training as part of responsible service of alcohol (RSA) training.

Speaking at the launch of the Australian Hotels’ Association’s new bystander intervention program, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs Andrea Michaels welcomed the AHA’s new training – available to its approximately 600 members - and announced the state government would seek to provide a broader training program for licensed venues in the hospitality industry to help protect staff and patrons.

The new training would help staff better identify and respond to sexual harassment and other unwanted behaviour so as to protect both hospitality workers and patrons.

The state government will also be consulting on training looking specifically at prevention and support of victims of drink spiking.

The move follows feedback received by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, the United Workers Union and What Were You Wearing Australia including during consultation on the Late Night Code.  

It also follows the release of Not So Hospitable: Sexual Harassment in the Adelaide Hospitality Industry report published by Jamie Bucirde and the University of Melbourne.

In response, Consumer and Business Services will soon begin consultation on mandatory sector-wide training for the hospitality sector.