Brittany Higgins offered apology and praise for highlighting abuse

Scott Morrison tells the former Lib staffer all people, especially young women, shouldn’t have their dreams ‘crushed by brutality’.

Scott Morrison has publicly apologised to Brittany Higgins and ­acknowledged her courage in shining a spotlight on “exploitation, abuse, bullying and harassment” in Parliament House as MPs from across the political divide pledged to lift workplace ­standards.

Nearly a year after she came forward with allegations she was raped at Parliament House, the former Liberal staffer returned to the building to hear the nation’s leaders formally address the findings of a landmark review into parliamentary culture.

Ms Higgins sat in the House of Representatives public gallery, flanked by former Liberal staffers Rachelle Miller, Chelsey Potter, Josie Coles and consent advocate Chanel Contos, as the Prime Minister responded.

None of the women was originally invited to the acknowledgment and only managed to attend after an intervention from independent MP Zali Steggall.

Mr Morrison was followed in responding to the review by ­Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Greens leader Adam Bandt and Ms ­Steggall.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an official apology to victims of sexual harassment, bullying and violence in Parliament House. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins recommended in her review released late last year that parliamentary leaders deliver a statement acknowledging bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault in commonwealth workplaces and the impact on victims.

“I’m sorry to Ms Higgins for the terrible things that took place here,” Mr Morrison said. “The place that should have been a place of safety and contribution turned out to be a nightmare. I am sorry for far more than that – for all of those who came before Ms Higgins and endured the same. But she had the courage to stand, and so here we are.”

Mr Morrison said all people, ­especially young women, should be able to follow “their dreams” and not have them “crushed by brutality”. He said the people ­responsible for bullying and harassment would be exposed, warning “the light will come to those behaviours, as it must”.

The Jenkins report, instigated by the Higgins allegations, ­exposed a “damaging culture” within parliament and found one in three staffers interviewed had been sexually harassed.

It delivered 28 recommendations, including restrictions on alcohol, gender equality targets and diversity, updated codes of conduct for MPs and their staff, and new oversight ­bodies to handle complaints.

The Opposition Leader paid tribute to Ms Higgins and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame for finding the “strength to lift the weight of their own experience” in order to lighten the burden for others.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins investigated the culture at Parliament House. Picture: AAP

“I particularly pay tribute to the courage of Brittany Higgins who is with us today,” he said. “You have torn through a silence that has acted as the life-support system for the most odious of status quo.”

Mr Albanese said Parliament House needed to attract the best talent and leaders needed to ­ensure standards be lifted to keep those who work there safe.

“We must, to put it simply, walk the talk,” he said. “We cannot ­attract the best people to this place if we don’t strive to be the best ourselves. Without the best people, we cannot achieve the best outcomes for the Australian people.”

Shortly after, Ms Tame slammed the Morrison government’s acknowledgment as an election stunt.

“How about some proactive, preventative measures and not just these performative, last-minute band-aid electioneering stunts?” she tweeted.

Her relationship with Mr Morrison became increasingly fractured during her tenure as Australian of the Year, culminating in a frosty encounter on Australia Day.

As Ms Steggall spoke on behalf of the crossbench, Nationals MP Keith Pitt, Employment Minister Stuart Robert and Energy ­Minister Angus Taylor left the lower house.

A visibly upset Ms Higgins left during the final speech and did not return.