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In a workplace landscape more fraught than a rainy day at Sydney Airport, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has donned the captain’s hat, steering the nation’s tourism operators away from the storm of sexual harassment litigation—and towards smoother, safer waters.

Yes, folks, the game has changed. As of 2025, it’s no longer enough to keep your fingers crossed and hope your staff behave. Every Aussie business must now actively prevent sexual harassment at work. Don’t, and you could be staring down the barrel of $1.5 million in fines, not to mention unlimited damages and a PR headache your brand may never recover from.

Enter ATIA with a timely solution that’s equal parts practical and protective: a no-nonsense webinar designed to arm its members with everything they need to stay compliant, upright, and out of hot water.

“It’s no longer about reacting. It’s about leading,” says Ingrid Fraser, ATIA’s formidable Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. “Employers now have a clear legal duty to stop harassment before it happens. This isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting people and doing the right thing.”

Not Just Another Webinar

This isn’t one of those yawn-inducing online lectures with grainy slides and monotone droning. It’s a hands-on legal survival kit for busy business owners, run by the award-winning Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA).

Set to launch at 12 pm AEST on 22 May, the exclusive session is limited to 25 attendees per group. Why? Because quality matters. That means real access to experts, no getting lost in the crowd, and personalised advice. And yes, it’s offered at a heavily discounted rate for ATIA members—because this isn’t about profit. It’s about principle.

Attendees can expect:

Templates for legally sound policies and training
A risk assessment framework that even the ATO would approve of
A mandated Prevention Plan template (hello, Queensland!)
Direct Q&A time with sharp legal minds who speak fluent small-business

A Bit More Queensland Drama

If you’re running a tourism business in Queensland, brace yourself: extra layers of red tape are coming at you from March 2025. Without a formal Prevention Plan, your business could be slugged with an additional $29,000 in penalties. And yes, ATIA’s got you covered with a ready-to-deploy template.

Fraser isn’t one to sugar-coat it: “This is serious business. We know our members want to be on the front foot, and we’re making that path as clear, simple, and stress-free as possible.”

The Bigger Picture

There’s something heartening about ATIA’s approach here. While other industries fumble awkwardly through compliance transitions, the travel sector, ever people-focused, treats this not as a burden but as an opportunity.

“Culture is what you allow, what you encourage, and what you ignore,” Fraser notes. “With the right tools and mindset, businesses can create workplaces that are not only safe, but thriving.”

And she’s right. The industry that prides itself on looking after guests must now, more than ever, look after its own.

Register Now or Risk Regret

The message is clear for those savvy enough to sense a regulatory tidal wave on the horizon: don’t just batten down the hatches—chart a new course. Registration is open now at ATIA’s official page, and places are disappearing faster than complimentary in-room snacks.

In a world where legal obligations are shifting faster than airline schedules, ATIA is again proving that it’s not just a lobby group—it’s a lifeline.