The Federal Government has flagged $47.2 million in funding to tackle workplace bullying and to help ensure employees and employers have access to information about their rights and obligations.

Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten, said that the $21.4 million would be directed towards helping victims of workplace bullying.

“Bullying and division not only impact the individual but can make entire workplaces toxic, meaning a huge cost burden to business,” Mr Shorten said.

“The Productivity Commission has estimated the total cost of workplace bullying and the associated loss of productivity in Australia could be as high as $36 billion every year.”

The funding will be delivered to the Fair Work Commission to implement the Federal Government’s reform to provide workers with a quick and effective way to result workplace bullying issues.

The Fair Work Commission will start dealing with bullying complaints from 1 July 2013, subject to the passage of the Fair Work Amendment Bill which implements Recommendation 23 of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment Inquiry report into workplace bullying.

“The Government is also committing $25.7 million to ensure the Fair Work Ombudsman can continue to do its important work and make it easier for employers and employees to understand their rights and obligations at work, as employers and employees continue their transition into a truly national workplace relations system,” Mr Shorten said.