SA parliament launches bid to stamp out sexual harassment and establish code of conduct for MPs

A code of conduct will be drawn up for MPs as part of a bid to stamp out sexual harassment in state parliament, after a report found it was rife.

A code of conduct will be drawn up for MPs as part of a bid to stamp out sexual harassment in state parliament.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman this morning successfully moved to set up a multipartisan committee of both houses of parliament, to consider and act on an Equal Opportunity Commission Report that found sexual harassment was rife within the parliament.

Labor then moved that the committee draw up a code of conduct for MPs, which was backed by Premier Steven Marshall and his party.

“Every single person in South Australia should feel safe and respected in the workplace but we here in the South Australian parliament should be modelling the highest of standards,” Mr Marshall said.

“I think it’s time for us to make sure that we are a model for all of South Australia.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman has successfully moved to set up a multipartisan committee of both houses of parliament. Picture: File

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said people had been distressed by allegations of sexual abuse in the federal and state parliaments.

“That alarms the community, as it reasonably should, and I think South Australians expect action in that regard,” he said.

“The South Australian community expects there to be a code of conduct for this workplace, just as there is for theirs.

“We can no longer sit back and say it’s one rule for everybody else and one for members of parliament.”

SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros said she was pleased a code of conduct for MPs had been included in the motion.

“This has been a long time coming – and now everyone is on notice,” she said.

“We all have a right to feel safe in our places of work – wherever that may be.”

Ms Bonaros was the victim of an alleged assault at Parliament House in 2019.

Former Liberal MP, now Independent MP, Sam Duluk was accused of slapping Ms Bonaros on the bottom during a Christmas function in December 2019.

Police charged Mr Duluk with one count of assault and he is set to stand trial in June.

He is yet to enter a plea. If convicted, he faces a maximum two-year jail term.

Ms Chapman indicated the lower house members of the committee would be Speaker Josh Teague, Liberal and King MP Paula Luethen, crossbencher and Mt Gambier MP Troy Bell and a Labor MP to be nominated.

The upper house’s members on the committee are expected to be President John Dawkins, along with a Liberal, Labor and crossbencher.

In a statement, Ms Chapman said: “It is vital that we, as a parliament, give serious consideration to these recommendations, and act to implement them as soon as possible.”

It comes a day after thousands of women – and many men – of all ages and backgrounds flocked to the centre of Adelaide on Monday to unite in a clear and powerful message: enough is enough.

Organisers said up to 8000 people attended the March4Justice event at Victoria Square, making it one of the biggest rallies in South Australia in recent decades.

More than 40 separate marches took place across the country, after the high-profile public rape allegations of recent weeks sparked a national call for action.