One in three parliamentary staffers say they’ve been sexually harassed

One in three parliamentary staffers who responded to a review of the workplace culture of Parliament House say they have been sexually harassed, with the report calling for a new code of conduct for federal MPs and their staff.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has recommended the code be enforced by an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission, and she said all parties need to push for gender parity to change the workplace culture within Federal Parliament.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has released her recommendations for workplace change at Federal Parliament.Credit: Arsineh Houspian

Ms Jenkins’ report, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, also recommended developing clear guidelines that set out expectations and standards around the use of alcohol in Parliament.

Other recommendations include implementing a code of conduct for parliamentarians, staffers and other workers in Parliament House, setting up a new Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission within a year, setting up an Office of Parliamentarian Staffing and Culture within a year to act as an independent human resources branch for staffers and setting up fair dismissal rules.

Ms Jenkins also recommended the Speaker and Senate President along with other parliamentary leaders make a formal acknowledgement of the harm caused to staffers and politicians from bullying, sexual harassment and assault in parliamentary workplaces should be made to begin the healing process.

The report found 33 per cent of people working in Commonwealth parliamentary offices have personally experienced sexual harassment in that office.

“Set the standard heard that 51 per cent of all people currently in working in [Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces] have experienced at least one incident of bullying, sexual harassment or actual or attempted sexual assault. That figure is unacceptably high,” Ms Jenkins said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked Ms Jenkins to investigate the culture in the days after former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins went public with allegations she was raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann. Mr Lehrmann denies the allegation and the matter will go to trial in the ACT Supreme Court in mid-2022.

Her inquiry interviewed hundreds of people and held group consultations, covering all types of people who work in Parliament House and electorate offices, including current and former politicians, staffers, journalists, cleaners and Comcar drivers. Ms Jenkins thanked Ms Higgins for being the catalyst behind the review. “The impact of her bravery is immeasurable,” she said.

Mr Morrison also thanked Ms Higgins for speaking publicly about her alleged rape in a ministerial office.

“I want to thank Brittany Higgins for her courage and when speaking up about these issues, in relation to the terrible events that led her to make those statements,” Mr Morrison said.

He said that his remarks were limited by the ongoing court case in which the defendant is pleading “not guilty”.

“[Brittany Higgins’] voice has spoken for many as this report shows, and the concerns and experiences that they have had in so many occupations working here in this building, so I thank her for that,” Mr Morrison said.

He said that the building was safer than when Ms Higgins worked in Parliament, but that there was still much more work to do. Mr Morrison said there was appalling behaviour, power imbalances and unhealthy behaviour in politics that needed to be addressed.

Politicians and staffers have been doing respectful workplaces training and a new serious incident response team has been set up to triage complaints about sexual harassment, assault and bullying in politicians’ offices, as recommended in a separate review by senior Prime Minister and Cabinet bureaucrat Stephanie Foster.

This week, both chambers agreed to set up public registers showing which MPs have completed the training and when.

The report contained a number of anonymous accounts of their experience of sexual harassment and bullying within parliamentary offices.

“I was sexually harassed multiple times, sexually assaulted, bullied and terrorised. And I was told that if I ever sought help or spoke about what happened to me my professional reputation and personal life would be destroyed,” one person said.

Another described working in Parliament House as going on a school camp in year nine with naughty schoolboys who “think everyone’s fair game”.

“I do often describe Parliament House as the most sexist place I’ve worked. I guess there is a workplace culture of drinking. There’s not a lot of accountability. The boys are lads. And that behaviour is celebrated and … they do treat women, our female staffers and female admin staff, quite differently. Young women, particularly media advisers coming in, particularly the younger women coming in, were like fresh meat and challenges,” one person said.

Others said the culture made it harder for them to feel welcome.

“[There was] a clear indication given to me by my colleagues, peers and managers that I don’t belong here and that this isn’t a (physically or psychologically) safe space for me, being a young woman of colour,” one person from a parliamentary department said.

Marise Payne, the Minister for Women, says it is unacceptable for the culture in Parliament to strip idealistic young employees of their dreams as a result of harassment, bullying and assault.

“One striking observation [from the Jenkins’ report] is that people are rightfully proud that we’re working in the federal parliament,” Senator Payne said.

“They come here because they want to make a difference.

“It’s deeply disappointing that if anyone arrives here inspired only… to become disillusioned because of the treatment they experienced by others, then that is not only terrible for them.”