Review into Parliament’s workplace culture hears from few politicians

Independent review launched in the aftermath of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation hears from just 16 current and former politicians.

The independent review into parliament’s workplace culture was launched after Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a male colleague. Picture: News Corp

An independent review into parliament’s workplace culture – launched in the aftermath of former staffer Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation – has heard from just 16 current and former politicians.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, who was appointed by the Morrison government to lead the investigation, said another 12 parliamentarians were scheduled to speak to her team. A progress report of the review was published on Monday, revealing 345 people had participated in the inquiry since it commenced interviews in late May. Almost three quarters of the participants were women.

Ms Jenkins said she hoped more politicians would speak to her team’s report which focuses on workplace bullying, sexual harassment and the broader culture in Parliament House.

“We’re getting a real diversity of experiences from a real mix of people with all different roles, in all different parts of parliament, including parliamentarians but also staff who work in Parliament House, media who work in the press gallery and staff in electoral office” she told the ABC.

“People are trusting in the confidence of the process and the confidentiality.”

Ms Jenkins said due to the short time frame of the inquiry she was not disappointed that only 16 MPs had participated.

“Current parliamentarians have a very busy workload so we’ve extended the time to participate. I’m really pleased with those we’ve spoken to – they’ve been really open and honest with us,” she said.

“There is an expectation for change.”

Ms Jenkins’ team has been travelling around Australia conducting interviews for the inquiry. The interim report showed 222 interviews had been conducted with a further 125 booked in.

Submissions for the inquiry close at the end of the month and interviews will wrap up in early August. Focus groups and an online survey will also be used to gather a wide array of experiences.

Former Liberal MP Julia Banks, who alleged she was harassed by a cabinet minister in the Turnbull government, said she would not give evidence in the inquiry because she did not trust its confidentiality. But she has provided the inquiry with a copy of her new book.

Ms Jenkins has previously defended the privacy standards and said the only document she would provide to the federal government would be the final report, due in November.

The federal government is also planning to implement an optional one-hour sexual harassment training course for politicians and their staff in Parliament House. The training was one of a series of recommendations made in a separate review into parliament’s workplace complaints procedures. The review by Prime Minister and Cabinet Department senior official Stephanie Foster also recommended the creation of an independent complaints team to clamp down on workplace harassment and assault.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has urged all federal politicians to participate in the non-mandatory training .

“That will be a pretty clear demonstration of their commitment, and they should be held to that,” she said.