Former Labor staffer back culture change for women in Parliament House

Women suffering sexual harassment and toxic workplace culture in Parliament House need a new complaints system to clean up both sides of politics, a senior Labor figure has warned.

Women suffering sexual harassment and toxic workplace culture in Parliament House need a new complaints system to clean up both sides of politics, a senior Labor figure has warned.

Currently accusations against Ministers, MPs or other staff are handled by the Department of Finance, which has limited authority to censure bad behaviour, and female staff are now raising concerns about the lack of formal support for their colleagues.

Former Labor adviser Fiona Sugden, who has worked for leaders including Anthony Albanese, Bill Shorten and Kevin Rudd, said she believed if women came together they could stop the “continued silencing” of poor behaviour.

Fiona Sugden has worked for many Labor leaders and says she stands by Liberal female staff who came forward with complaints.

“The culture around the treatment of women at Parliament House needs to change,” she said.

“This is a significant problem that is not unique to any one side of federal politics.”

Ms Sugden said she was not interested in “cultivating the outrage culture” but in “practical solutions”.

Spurred into speaking out by revelations of a consensual affair between former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller and Minister Alan Tudge, Ms Sugden said in an opinion article for the Daily Telegraph she was “very sorry” for what happened to her colleagues across the political aisle.

“There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment, bullying and sexism in the “People’s

House”, Parliament House,” she said.

“It is time for a meeting of the brilliant minds of the talented women at Parliament House from all backgrounds and political affiliations to come together and talk about solutions.”

Federal member of parliament Alan Tudge arrives at the 2017 Midwinter Ball in the company of Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller who he was having an affair with.

Ms Miller, has formally complained to the Department of Finance about her experience of workplace bullying in both Mr Tudge and Minister Michaelia Cash’s offices.

Labor staff were last week called to a meeting to discuss issues of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.

In the fallout from the sex scandal expose, former Labor Minister Kate Ellis has also called for urgent reform in parliament.

The Daily Telegraph understands multiple female staff members are preparing advice and letters with recommendations to hand to federal leaders on how to better handle complaints.

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has defended his office’s reporting process for any complaints and the use of the Department of Finance.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have backed the ‘bonk ban’ in the ministerial code. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Labor leader said he was “not aware of any complaints being made … from within Labor offices”.

At an all-staff meeting last week Mr Albanese’s chief of staff Tim Gartrell told Labor staff that new policies and programs were being developed to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment and bullying.

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles’s chief of staff Lidija Ivanovski also addressed the meeting, acknowledging the internal culture needed to be less boozy, less blokey, and more reflective of modern workplaces.

She also warned of a stigma that saw some people who raised issues treated as not team players.

Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was “absurd” the ABC had only investigated the conduct of Liberal ministers as the issues of the past were not “limited” to one side of politics.

Though critical of the program, Mr Morrison said the issues raised around workplace culture and relationships with staff were “very important”, and that he strongly supported his predecessor’s change to the ministerial code of conduct.

“It is important that everyone should feel safe in their workplace,” he said.

“I take this issue extremely seriously.”

FIONA SUGDEN OPINION: IT’S TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER

Last week, once again, we saw some incredibly courageous women in the Liberal Party and legal fraternity tell their story. I stand with them. I salute them.

It takes great strength to stand up and tell your story when there is enormous pressure to stay silent.

To Rachelle and the other Liberal women that have recently spoken out – I am very sorry this happened to you.

I believe you, I hear you. Please know hundreds of Labor women see you. We feel your pain. We support you.

Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller had an affair with minister Alan Tudge.

What you did last week will make some difference for us all. Please know that. I hope this gives you a small amount of comfort.

To call out this behaviour is an enormously difficult thing to do. It comes with severe personal consequences. To the women that have done this for the greater good.

Thank you.

There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sexualised bullying and sexism in the “People’s House”, Parliament House.

Parliament House should be a safe place where women can thrive and excel. Where the nation benefits from their contribution and talents. A place where women can focus solely on delivering for Australians.

The truth is that’s not always the case.

Parliament House in Canberra is meant to be the “People’s House”. Picture: David Gray/Getty Images

This problem is not unique to any one side of federal politics.

If you’re still questioning the validity of this problem, then you’re not listening. You’re not ready to be part of the solution.

Questioning whether this issue is real, is as pointless as questioning the science of climate change. We need to move past that debate and on to positive action.

This was affirmed by Anthony Albanese last week when he said women in Parliament House need to be listened to more and that we need to change the culture for women in Parliament House.

While I belong to the other side of politics to these brave Liberal women, I support them and what they are trying to do. They want change. Me too.

Men, please listen to us. We are done.

The culture around the treatment of women at Parliament House does need to change.

I am not interested in cultivating the outrage cycle.

I am interested in practical solutions that will impact positive change for women.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has voiced support for changing the culture of Parliament House. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

I stand with my sisters at Parliament House, whether they’re on the other side of politics, the extraordinary women in the federal press gallery, the office cleaners, the security guards or the childcare educators.

Together we can have a stronger voice and we can completely reject this behaviour, this culture and the continued silencing of it.

I have worked in federal politics over a span of 15 years. I am by no means able to speak for Labor.

But I do believe the standard that women in Parliament House are expected to walk past is unacceptable.

I’ve been honoured to work for every Labor Leader since Kim Beazley and all the Leaders I’ve worked for have only ever treated me with respect.

But I’ve also personally experienced terrible things too.

Fiona Sugden worked for former Labor leader Kim Beazley. Picture: Colin Murty

Providing a safe and equal working environment is essential for keeping women in federal politics.

It is also essential for encouraging more women to get involved in politics for the long term.

We know that more women around the tables at Parliament House helps to achieve more representative policies for Australians.

I believe it is time for women at Parliament House from all sides and all backgrounds, to come together to create positive change on this issue.

We can work together to incrementally make Parliament House a better place for women.

It is time for some action. It is time for a bipartisan Working Group meeting to be held

for women that work at Parliament House.

We need to put politics aside and work on a path forward. This meeting should be facilitated and supported by the leadership of the federal Parliament.

There is some good work being done at an individual party level to improve the culture for women. A bipartisan meeting would build on that further and bring all women together. Many people, including men, are already working towards real and meaningful change. Together we can give this even more impact.

We are at our best when we support each other. I would hope many men at Parliament House would want to help to lead this change too.

If we support each other, listen, and work to create positive solutions for change then we can improve the culture and ensure Parliament House is a better place for women.

Let’s not miss the moment to take that action.

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