Earlier this year, on a trip to Canberra, the taxi driver asked if I wanted to go the long way to my hotel, past Parliament House. Why not? In the early autumn twilight, it was a glorious sight indeed. The people’s house. The place where laws are made, justice upheld, and wisdom dispensed for the betterment of all.
Or, if you’ve read even part of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ report into parliamentary culture this week, a glorified frat house. A booze-filled lothario den where a third of all staff report having experienced sexual harassment and felt powerless to do anything about it.
A workplace so unique that it exists in its own bubble yet so common that it’s grappling with the same issues as workplaces Australia-wide – only, it seems, several decades behind everyone else.
Jenkins’ report is a grubby read. Shocking too, but only in the sense that anyone is actually surprised by the content. How can anyone with a pulse who’s been around the joint for more than 30 seconds be surprised?
Are we really expected to believe that successive generations of men and women in parliament, some of whom have served (I use that term loosely) for decades, were none the wiser before Jenkins’ report was released?
Do we collectively accept that over the past several decades, and beyond, that nobody knew? That no one turned a blind eye? Be they staffer, MP – or, heaven forbid, journalist?
And while we’re at it, please do not ask me to believe the problem is only one of male behaviour towards women. The most savage undermining, the worst corporate bullying of my life, has been at the hands of other women.
As if we needed a proof point on that, on Thursday Greens senator Lidia Thorpe apologised to Liberal senator Hollie Hughes for comments that, were they made by a bloke, would have more than likely cost him his job, and rightly so.
I have been in corporate life for 20 years, and in commercial TV news for a decade before that.
I can, hand on my heart, say the men in my professional life have – and continue to overwhelmingly be – peers, respected clients and colleagues, friends, and mentors. I have had many doors opened for me by such men.
But I have also known what it’s like to have to go home and get changed from a skirt into a pair of pants and high-necked shirt before a meeting. I have had on one occasion, a person comment on my breasts during what was supposed to be a professional conversation and to my great shame now, in the moment I felt powerless to say anything. I don’t really know why. I wasn’t young, and it wasn’t that long ago. I can only guess it was shock because I couldn’t believe it had happened.
Women and men bully and abuse in different ways, there’s no room for either.
The behaviours outlined in the Jenkins report are generations – literally decades upon decades – in the making. Both sides of politics, elected and staff, women and men are all guilty at the very least of sins of omission.
Scott Morrison was right when he said that this is a whole of parliament problem, because it is. For all his imperfections, Morrison commissioned this report when countless others did not. Some might argue his hand was forced by circumstance. Nonsense. Plenty before him body-surfed these waves of controversy to shore without doing anything of substance.
To his credit, he allowed the lid to be lifted and the stench to be known by all. As a result, cabinet minister Alan Tudge is standing aside following allegations of abuse made by his former staffer Rachelle Miller during their affair. Allegations he denies.
While the boil has been lanced, neither the government nor the opposition has yet committed to adopting all 28 recommendations of the report. This is wise, in my view. A mess this long in the making is not cleaned up in an instant, though it’s worth noting that many of the recommendations would simply bring Parliament House into line with everyone else.
A dry workplace (be it on site or corporate office) is yesterday’s news in the mining industry.
More broadly, and deeply though, this is the loudest wake-up call imaginable to everyone who works in an environment, the sole purpose of which is to serve you and me. They work for us. Us mere mortals know what’s acceptable behaviour and what isn’t when we go to work. There are no excuses.
The thing to watch next is, can both sides own up, step up, and bring change? The proof is not so much in the evidence the Jenkins report uncovered, but rather in the ability of all who carry the burden of ownership and responsibility not to weaponise the process for political gain.
That alone will clearly show who really wants change, and the true measure of those charged with bringing it.
Join the conversation
War will end when Israel’s foes stop attacking it
Hamas began hostilities on October 7 when it invaded southern Israel and began slaughtering and kidnapping Israelis. Only an evil or foolish leader would start a war. But nations are entitled to defend themselves against attack.
Read more
Two enemies, two paths – and one deadly objective
Iran relies on violence to achieve its goal of destroying Israel and its people, while the Palestinian threat is more subtle.
Read more