NSW Parliament: $1.09m allocated on training, consultancy costs in workplace culture overhaul

More than $1 million of taxpayer funding has been forked out on consultancy and training costs to improve the workplace culture in NSW Parliament House including $100,000 on a new ‘alcohol policy’.

More than $1 million in taxpayer funding has been forked out on consultancy and training costs to improve the workplace culture in NSW Parliament House – including $100,000 on a new ‘alcohol policy’ for parliamentary staff.

New figures have laid bare the huge costs involved with developing systems to address workplace standards in the hallowed halls of state parliament following a damning review into bad behaviour including reports of sexual assaults, bullying and harassment.

A breakdown of government funding shows $1.09 million has been allocated to consultants, training and other fees including $175,000 to train all parliamentary staff on a new alcohol policy, $90,000 to train leaders on taking “trauma informed approaches” to complaints handling, and $60,000 on a policy outlining inappropriate behaviour scenarios.

The costs are in direct responses to a damning review of the workplace culture in Parliament House, carried out by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick in 2022, which found bullying, harassment and sexual assault was rife and occurring at “unacceptable rates”.

Key drivers of harmful behaviour included the unequal distribution of power between parliamentarians and staff, long working hours and the and access to and consumption of alcohol.

JB9G6G People visit NSW Parliament house in Sydney Australia.

The review found both women and men reported experiences of actual or attempted sexual assault with prevalence highest among people who identified as having a diverse sexuality.

The training and consultancy cost figures show $50,000 has also been allocated to an independent expert training on diversity and inclusion to work across parliamentary workplaces.

There is also $40,000 for an independent and expert facilitator to hold a workshop looking at the vulnerability of LGBTQI+ people within Parliament House.

Elizabeth Broderick handed down here review in 2022.

Other costs include $120,000 on independent training developed by an expert in appropriate behaviour, $80,000 for leadership and management development training, and $20,000 in unspecified “travel costs”.

It is understood the new alcohol policy will promote the importance of responsible drinking including at the on-site bar and restaurant located within Parliament House.

Budget documents show the NSW Government is expected to spend a total of $15 million over the next four years to carry out all changes recommended by Ms Broderick’s review

A bulk of the funding will be used to hire 11 new staff members to implement the recommendations, including a new manager of wellbeing and safety, a senior adviser for wellbeing and safety and a learning & development co-ordinator.

New staff members will be hired to improve the workplace culture at Parliament House.

A photo of the restaurant/bar at Parliament House.

Mark Webb, the chief executive of the Department of Parliamentary Services, atold a parliament hearing the funding has seen improvements in reporting pathways for parliamentary staff to make complaints in the last 12 months.

Upper House MP Mark Latham has been critical of the funding allocation, saying it “doesn’t represent value for money” for taxpayers.

“The whole Broderick exercise has been a funding splurge looking for a problem,” he said.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the department said new policies and training would “ensure staff have the support needed in all parliamentary workplaces”.

“The Parliament of NSW is committed to addressing the matters raised in the Broderick review to ensure safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces across parliament,” she said in a statement.