Analysis: South Australian MPs must lead to obliterate sexual harassment and abuse
Right now there are four men who must step up so South Australia can take a national lead to stamp out parliamentary sexual harassment and abuse.
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Stamping out widespread sexual harassment within state parliament will require leadership from the four men holding the levers of power – all of whom will need to step up.
As emphasised by tens of thousands of people rallying around the country yesterday, Australians have lost patience with inaction from their leaders to ensure that women have the most basic of rights – to live, work and play without being preyed upon.
At the front of the queue for change is the South Australian parliament, which today starts a three-day sitting.
This advanced position is because of a confronting review, released on March 2, that uncovered scandalous allegations of indecent exposure, assault and sexual suggestions by MPs and their staff.
The Equal Opportunity Commission review was initiated by both houses of parliament on November 12 last year. It was triggered by the alleged assault at a 2019 Christmas Party of SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros by the-then Liberal, now-independent MP Sam Duluk, who will stand trial in June.
Responsibility for leading change in SA’s parliament is in the hands of four men: Premier Steven Marshall, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas, Speaker Josh Teague and Legislative Council President John Dawkins. They have differing responsibilities.
Their agenda has been laid out. The commission review made 16 recommendations, focused on addressing “an absence of coherent, documented and applied policy, procedure and process addressing sexual and discriminatory behaviour” in the parliamentary workplace.
“Power disparity is a key element driving sexual and discriminatory harassment,” the review found.
Mr Marshall’s Cabinet last Tuesday moved on three key recommendations, requiring State Government action. The first, forming a centralised human resources unit, spearheads half of the 16 recommendations. Cabinet also amended the Ministerial Code of Conduct to explicitly forbid ministers engaging in “sexual harassment or other forms of discriminatory behaviour”.
Four of the remaining recommendations require change by both houses of parliament, such as the motions that initiated the review. This will require leadership by the Speaker and President.
Most likely, the recommended changes will need to be considered by a multi-partisan committee that can report back to both houses. This should be established as a matter of urgency, as a show of good faith. This is a burning issue and parliament must demonstrate action.
Mr Marshall has faced criticism for abrogating leadership on the issue by failing to push for an MPs code of conduct, as recommended by the review.
He and Attorney-General Vickie Chapman have self-evidently pointed out that this is a matter for the parliament. This means Mr Malinauskas must eschew political point scoring and work collaboratively to achieve this desired outcome.
Starting this week, the SA parliament can set a national example by kickstarting much-needed reform, with the goal of becoming a workplace free of sexual harassment and abuse.
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