Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins hit out at Scott Morrison’s Jenkins Report behaviour

Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins have shamed the Prime Minister over the government’s sexual harassment scandal.

Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame have hit out at the Prime Minister’s response to the damming Jenkins Report, saying that “Scott (Morrison) doesn’t get it”.

The comments from the former Liberal staffer whose rape allegations sparked the Sex Discrimination Commissioner's report, and the Australian of the Year, comes as neither major political party have committed to the 28 recommendations outlined by Kate Jenkins.

The Set the Standard report found one in three workers were sexually harassed, and one per cent had been sexually assaulted.

Ms Tame said the information contained in the report was not new, and that as of yet, nothing had really changed.

“I don’t think things are actually changing yet. We’ve had an announcement about the review which had 28 recommendations... Brittany raised some of those to Scott when she met with him,” she said.

“He’s not surprised. This is not new information to him. Nothing has really changed as we can see at the top level.

“Actions speak louder than words. It remains to be seen that there’s any actual change.”

Australian of the Year 2021 Grace Tame has responded to the damming Jenkins Report. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Brittany Higgins shamed the Prime Minister over the government’s sexual harassment scandal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

She made reference to Mr Morrison pulling backbencher Bridget Archer – who crossed the floor to support an anti-corruption inquiry – aside last week.

“Scott doesn’t get it. He just ambushed Bridget Archer the other day... Josh (Frydenberg) went up to her and said ‘come and have a chat with just me’,” Ms Tame said.

“And then they pulled her into an office and Scott was there and so was Marise (Payne). That’s coercive control. That’s pretty textbook stuff.

“That’s a pretty calculated, manipulative move.”

Ms Higgins, who was thanked by the Prime Minister for her courage during the release of the Jenkins Review, said she had seen firsthand how rampant the toxic culture was in Parliament House, and that she was eagerly awaiting serious structural change.

“I mean naturally, especially sort of given the proximity to the election, I think they’re going to want to say that they have ambition to actually committing these recommendations and actually making change, but that’s yet to be seen,” Ms Higgins said.

“At the moment, the Prime mInister’s word is a little wobbly. We don’t know when he gives an indication that he’s supportive of policy that he’s actually going to commit to.

“So unless we get it in plain English terms, I just don’t have that innate trust that it.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison releases the Jenkins Review into sexual discrimination of parliament workplace. Picture: Adam Taylor

Ms Higgins reiterated Mr Morrison’s comments that it was a “whole of Parliament issue”, saying she had seen the harassment and bullying on all sides.

“It’s across the spectrum. It’s on the Opposition side, it’s in the Liberals, it’s in the Nationals, it’s in the Greens, and I’ve heard it from so many men and women across the spectrum,” she said.

“I think there has to be a stocktaking moment of this Parliament to consider what legacy would you like to leave... Because this transcends politics.

“This is about human dignity. This is about the workplace that you would like to be and you have to set the standard, and if the lawmakers and our leaders aren’t willing to actually step up and commit to it, how can we expect any other Australian business to commit to stamping out sexual harassment.

“We’re yet to hear that hardline political will from the Prime Minister.”

Both the government and the Opposition have publicly stated they would review the 28 recommendations before announcing whether they would commit to implementing them.

On Tuesday, Mr Morrison said he had asked Simon Birmingham to consult with the Opposition, minor parties and Independents on “a way forward to respond to (the) Review”.

“These are problems we all own, and they’re problems we all have a responsibility to fix,” he said.