New ministerial standards to lift parliament’s workplace culture

Mandatory training for ministers among new and updated workplace standards likely to be introduced by the PM today.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the site in Avalon where Hanwha Defense Australia will build its Australian military vehicle production facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Scott Morrison is expected to update the ministerial standards on Saturday in line with reviews conducted by the deputy secretary of his department, Stephanie Foster, and sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins.

Seven new additions will be made to the ministerial standards on Saturday afternoon in a bid to improve the culture and working environment at Parliament House, including mandatory training for ministers and their staff on safe and respectful workplaces.

Ministers will be required to confirm to the Prime Minister that the training has been completed by them and their staff under the new rules which come after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped at Parliament House in 2019.

Former cabinet minister Alan Tudge was also cleared last month of emotionally and physically abusing former staffer Rachelle Miller with whom he had a consensual affair. Mr Tudge remains on unpaid leave from the front bench despite the investigation finding insufficient evidence to substantiate Ms Miller’s claims. Mr Tudge said this was “in the interests of his family and his own well being.”

Changes to the standards for ministers come ahead of Mr Morrison calling the election, with the Prime Minister expected to fire the starter’s gun on the campaign before the end of the weekend.

Brittany Higgins attends an International Women's Day breakfast.

The new standards say that ministers have obligations to “comply with all applicable Australian laws” and argues this means understanding workplace health and safety duties.

The most significant addition is a new standard which references Ms Jenkins’ review and states that ministers and their staff have “duties to take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect their own health and safety while at work, and the health and safety of others.”

“Ministers must clearly articulate to their staff that behaviour subject to review by the PWSS (Parliamentary Workplace Support Service) is unacceptable.

“This includes assault, sexual assault, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying.”

Ministers are expected to co-operate with the PWSS and “conduct themselves consistent with any resolutions relating to the PWSS that may be passed by the parliament from time to time.”

Alan Tudge MP, congratulates Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on delivering the budget.

The new standards say that, when a minister becomes the subject of a complaint of a serious incident by the PWSS, and the PWSS upholds the complaint, that finding will constitute a breach of the ministerial standards.

The close relatives and partners of ministers are also not to be appointed to positions in their ministerial or electorate offices. In addition, they cannot be employed in the “offices of other members of the executive government without the Prime Minister’s express approval.”

“A close relative or partner of a minister is not to be appointed to any position in an agency in the minister’s own portfolio if the appointment is subject to the agreement of the minister or cabinet.”