Equal Opportunity Commissioner to get greater powers to probe MP sexual harrasment claims
Powers of the state’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner were questioned when allegations against former Liberal MP Sam Duluk surfaced earlier in the year. But the State Government are making moves to close the loopholes.
SA News
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South Australia’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner will be able to investigate sexual harassment complaints about politicians for the first time, under proposed new laws.
Gaps in the Equal Opportunity Act came to light earlier in the year when former Liberal MP Sam Duluk was accused of slapping the bottom of SA Best MP Connie Bonaros at a Christmas function in Parliament House.
Following the alleged incident, calls were made for the Government and Premier Steven Marshall to have Equal Opportunity Commissioner Niki Vincent investigate the accusations.
However, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the Act did not cover MPs. She told The Advertiser the loophole would be addressed in new legislation to be tabled in Parliament this week.
“The law as it currently stands makes no reference to MPs who sexually harass fellow MPs – a deliberate decision, as I understand it, from when sexual harassment provisions in relation to MPs against staff were introduced in 1997,” Ms Chapman said.
“In over two decades since, attitudes have clearly shifted, and it’s no longer acceptable to have a situation where this type of harassment is not covered by our laws.”
She said the Bill extended provisions to make sexual harassment by an MP of another MP unlawful. Ms Vincent is undertaking an investigation into the workplace culture at Parliament House.
Last week the Advertiser revealed Mr Duluk, who suspended his Liberal Party membership but has continued as an independent, will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court in October after being formally charged with assaulting Ms Bonaros.