Greens Candidate Calls For City Sexual Harassment Policy

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Greens Candidate for Ward 3, Sinead Francis-Coan has started an online petition, calling on Newcastle venues to adopt a sexual harassment policy. 

The Newcastle: Let's raise the bar petition calls on local venues to develop a harassment prevention and response policy, and to ensure staff and security are appropriately trained to deal with incidents. 

The policy would also see venues using signage to communicate prevention and reporting practices to clientele, as well as the implementation of a log for sexual harassment incidents. 

These practices would represent each participating venue making a public commitment to maintaining a harassment-free environment.

"We haven't had a lot of opportunities to go out lately, but even so, over one weekend people were choosing not to go to particular venues and were leaving places early just because of what they experienced when they were there," Ms Francis-Coan said.

"Of course, I hold the people responsible themselves if they are harassing someone, but I think the venues are in a really key position to be able to model by example and be on the front foot. That is what I am encouraging. " 

Ms Francis-Coan said the campaign isn't "looking to reinvent to wheel", but rather aims to highlight best practice steps which already exist and can be implemented by venue staff. 

One of these includes the use of a code word between patrons and venue staff which would alert them to unwanted sexual attention. 

The petition currently has 153 signatures and can be found on the change.org website. 

"It is steadily tricking through and I know there are a lot of different stakeholders ready to talk which means we are starting to get somewhere." Ms Francis-Coan said. 

Sinead Francis-Coan