Nationals MP Anne Webster made a harassment complaint about an incident in parliament last week
Anne Webster made a complaint against someone who harassed her in Parliament House last week, hoping other women will come forward with their stories.
Nationals MP Anne Webster made a complaint against someone who harassed her in Parliament House last week and hopes her experience will help to heal Canberra’s toxic culture.
The other person involved in Dr Webster’s complaint has apologised and committed not to harass anyone else again, and the Mallee MP says she is satisfied with the outcome.
Dr Webster was appointed by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack to lead the Nationals’ response to a major review of Parliament’s workplace culture and she told The Australian that her experience shows a way forward on dealing with harassment.
“I’ve been made the point person for the National Party for the (Sex Discrimination Commissioner) Kate Jenkins review so I gained some first-hand experience with how the process works,” she said on Sunday.
“The other person has apologised and committed to never acting like that again … This is how this process should work. I don’t want anyone sacked for minor misdemeanours. We need to work together on recalibrating consent and conducting respectful relationships.”
The incident comes as the National Party’s federal management committee decided this weekend to review the federal and state division’s harassment policies.
Mr McCormack has also floated the idea of getting his Nationals MPs to take sensitivity training in light of the past month’s revelations of mishandled sexual assault allegations and bad behaviour in parliament.
Dr Webster – who entered parliament in 2019 – said she was buoyed by the number of young men and women at the Nationals’ federal conference this weekend who wanted to change the political culture when it comes to harassment and the treatment of women.
“Young women in the conference are definitely telling me they are angry and they want things to change,” she said on Sunday.
“There have also been a lot of young men in the Young Nationals who definitely get it and want to help be part of that change. This is not about emasculating men. This is about working together on this.
“It takes courage to make these sort of complaints. This is a new time for new ideas.”
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