Time to shine a light on Macquarie Street’s dark recesses

The tide of outrage that built up over past years about the toxic workplace culture in the federal parliament has finally crashed into Macquarie Street.

The Morrison government struggled against a view that it turned a blind eye to allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and bullying which was said to be occurring among staffers and MPs.

As similar complaints started to surface in NSW parliament last year, former federal sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick was asked to produce a report like one prepared for the Morrison government.

The results released on Friday are roughly similar to, and just as shocking as, the situation in Canberra.

The review – based on 500 responses to an online survey, 100 confidential interviews and 58 written submissions from the public servants, MPs and political staffers who work in Parliament House – found that 28 per cent of respondents had personally experienced bullying in the past five years and 25 per cent sexual harassment.

Of most concern, three men and two women said they had been victims of actual or attempted sexual assault.

The review reveals that this bad behaviour is much more likely to involve MPs and their staffers than the public servants who work alongside them.

For example, about 40 per cent of MPs and staffers did not believe that “sexual banter and sexualised conversation” were rare in their workplace.

Drinking in the workplace seems to be much higher among MPs and staffers, too.

This conduct would be unacceptable in most workplaces and seems to be part of an aggressive, blokey culture that has never been addressed in political life.

The people of NSW can see it on display in the screams and insults thrown back and forth during question time, which have long earned the parliament’s lower house the title of “the bear pit”.

At its origin, this seems to reflect a power dynamic of hierarchies and tribal loyalties that override normal standards.

“… the culture of the party runs on bullying and harassment. They bully and harass people to get them to toe the line, they spread rumours, shout you down, use their position to try to minimise your ability to participate,” one participant told the review.

In a separate review last year, former NSW sex discrimination commissioner and minister Pru Goward highlighted how vulnerable political staffers are to pressure from their MPs because they are beholden to them for advancement in their political careers.

“There is a real drive among some MPs to humiliate staff in front of others. They are pretty dismissive, with an attitude of ‘I’m elected, and you are not’,” one person told the Broderick review.

The cultural problems are also linked to the gender imbalance in both houses of parliament. It is still largely a boys’ club.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has rightly described the review’s findings as “sobering, confronting and completely unacceptable”.

He has promised to implement its recommendations which involve training MPs and their staffers about their rights and obligations, strengthening codes of conduct and creating independent avenues for people who are affected to make their complaints.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said that this is a problem for all the parliament and all parties have an obligation to solve this problem. “It’s my view that neither side, or any side in politics, comes to this issue with clean hands.”

Yet, it is jarring that on the same day that he handed down the report, Perrottet was still reluctant to give a clear explanation of the circumstances which led him to dismiss Eleni Petinos from cabinet on July 31 over what has been described as “staff matters” related to bullying. She denies any wrongdoing.

One of the best ways to change the culture in parliament would be to shine a light on its dark recesses but Perrottet has opted against providing details of the alleged behaviour within Petinos’ office.

Certainly, he is bound by considerations of due process and confidentiality of the victims but he is missing an opportunity to set a strong example by explaining where he draws the line for acceptable conduct.

It is ironic that the NSW parliament, which has the task of legislating safety in the workplace, is so careless about what is happening under its own roof.

Bevan Shields sends an exclusive newsletter to subscribers each week. Sign up to receive his Note from the Editor.