or conduct based on race, ancestry, colour or place of origin''.

The definition was spelled out in the Senate on Wednesday by Sen. Lawrence Scott , Parliamentary Secretary for Human Affairs.

Sen. Scott was responding to a question from Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind), who wanted to know how harassment would be defined under the recently-passed Human Rights Amendment Act 1995.

When the Senate passed the amendment last month, Opposition Sen. Terry Lister had expressed concern that no definition of harassment was given.

Sen. Scott said racial harassment was a form of discrimination which could "be either verbal or physical, a single event or a series of incidents.'' Forms of workplace racial harassment included racial slurs or derogatory remarks, racist pictures, graffiti, or other materials, sabotage or physical assault and teasing or threats, he said.

The Human Rights Act also prohibited sexual harassment, which Sen. Scott said was "sexual comment or sexual conduct which is vexatious, and which is known, or ought to be reasonably known to be unwelcome.'' Although "harassment'' was not specifically defined under the Act, it was clear it was a form of discrimination and therefore within the mandate of the Human Rights Commission.

In a supplementary question, Sen. Astwood wanted to know why Sen. Scott made no mention of gender harassment, which was distinct from sexual harassment and "far more likely to occur today in the workplace''.

Sen. Scott said the commission could address any type of discrimination. And Government Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte said gender discrimination was dealt with separately in another part of the Human Rights Act.

In response to a supplementary question from Opposition Senate Leader Sen.

Milton Scott , Sen. Lawrence Scott said he would find out whether the Minister planned to amend the Human Rights Act to include a section on interpretation providing the definition outlined.

Sen. Lister asked how the information would be disseminated to the public until then.