# Can I report a board member for making inappropriate comments about my gender during my licence renewal?

- Jurisdiction: Australia
- Practice area: Employment Law
- Published: 2026-11-02
- Last updated: 2026-11-02
- Canonical: https://lawasked.com/au/employment-law/can-i-report-board-member-making-inappropriate-comments

## Question

I am currently living in Victoria and I am facing a really distressing situation regarding my professional registration. I have been working as a licensed plumber for about eight years now. Last month, on the 14th of October, I had to meet with a senior member of the regulatory body that handles our trade qualifications to discuss the renewal of my authorisation. During our meeting, which lasted roughly forty minutes, this individual made several highly offensive and suggestive comments about my sex, implying that women aren't suited for the physical labour of the trade and making lewd remarks about my appearance. It felt like a targeted attempt to intimidate me while they were deciding whether to grant my renewal. I have already sent a formal written complaint to the administrative office of the board, but they sent me a generic email saying they only handle technical disputes regarding trade standards, not personal conduct. I am feeling very vulnerable because this person has the direct power to approve or withdraw my licence, which is my entire livelihood. I am unsure if I have any recourse against this specific person for their behaviour given their position of authority over my professional status.

## Summary

Yes, you likely have legal recourse. Under federal law, it is unlawful for a member of a regulatory body to harass someone based on their sex during the process of renewing a professional qualification.

## Analysis

Based on the facts you provided, the senior member of your regulatory body may have violated the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. Because this person is a member of an authority that has the power to renew your trade authorisation, they are subject to specific rules regarding conduct.

Under Section 28C, "It is unlawful for a member of an authority or body that has power to take action in connection with an occupational qualification to sexually harass, or harass on the ground of sex, a person seeking action in connection with an occupational qualification" [1]. This means that because you were meeting to discuss your licence renewal (an "action in connection with an occupational qualification"), the board member's conduct is covered by this law. Their comments about women not being suited for physical labour and their lewd remarks about your appearance appear to fall under harassment on the ground of sex.

To understand if this qualifies as harassment, we look at Section 28AA. A person harasses another if they engage in "unwelcome conduct of a demeaning nature" based on the person's sex, in circumstances where a reasonable person would expect the victim to feel "offended, humiliated or intimidated" [2]. The law specifically requires that when determining if conduct is harassment, one must consider the "power imbalance in the relationship between the person who engaged in the conduct" and the person harassed [2]. In your case, the fact that this individual holds direct power over your livelihood is a critical factor in assessing their behavior.

While the board's administrative office claims they only handle technical disputes, the law suggests that personal conduct of this nature is a legal matter. However, it is unsettled whether the board's internal policies or specific administrative laws might provide a different internal process before you move to external legal action.

## Statutory citations

- Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Section 28C - Members of bodies with power to grant etc. occupational qualifications etc. [in force] (https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A02868/latest/text)
  > It is unlawful for a member of an authority or body that has power to take action in connection with an occupational qualification to sexually harass, or harass on the ground of sex, a person seeking action in connection with an occupational qualification.
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Section 28AA - Meaning of harassment on the ground of sex [in force] (https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A02868/latest/text)
  > the person engages in unwelcome conduct of a demeaning nature in relation to the person harassed; and (b) the person does so in circumstances in which a reasonable person... would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

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