Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party) | Hansard source

I'm pleased to rise to speak on the Parliamentary Workplace Reform (Set the Standard Measures No. 1) Bill 2022 and the report Set the standard from the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. I want to start by quoting Commissioner Kate Jenkins from the report itself for the House and for those listening:

This is an opportunity for the leaders of our country to transform Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces to become what they already should be: workplaces where expected standards of behaviour are modelled, championed and enforced, where respectful behaviour is rewarded and in which any Australian, no matter their gender, race, sexual orientation, disability status or age, feels safe and welcome to contribute. By acting on this Report this Parliament has the unique chance to leave an historic legacy for future generations of people working in the Parliament and, through them, for all Australians.

This aim is an important one, because it is only by reflecting the whole of Australian society, and living up to community expectations, that Parliament can perform its function in a representative democracy: making good decisions that will positively impact Australian society. The recommendations in this Report are designed to make the Australian Parliament the sort of workplace and institution in which Australians can be rightly proud.

This is a very, very sensitive topic. It is an issue that so many Australians across the country have faced—employees, particularly women—for generations: being safe at work. I, like the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Boothby have expressed, am deeply troubled and indeed very sorry for any person not just in this place but across our great nation who has been in situations where they have been improperly treated.

We have a great responsibility here in this place to set the standard, and that is exactly what our government is doing. I, along with the member for Boothby, will be honest in this place and say that I have never felt unsafe doing my job here in Australia's parliament. I've never felt unsafe in my office and I can vouch for the environment in my own office that I have created for all my staff, no matter their gender, no matter their age, no matter their sexuality and, I must also say, no matter their gender identity. I would hope that Australians believe me when I say I have done my best in my office—as we all need to do across our parliament—to make sure my employees feel safe.

The government is indeed implementing recommendations to make sure our staff across the parliament can lead the way in terms of their safety in this place. This bill implements two recommendations from the Jenkins report: recommendation 17, which amends the MOP(S) Act for employees; and recommendation 24, which amends the Age Discrimination Act. The bill will amend the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 to strengthen and clarify the employment rights of MOP(S) Act employees. In particular, this bill would implement recommendation 17, as I said, of the report, amending the MOP(S) Act to make it clear that the Fair Work Act 2009 applies to MOP(S) Act employees. While this has always been the case, this bill will remove any doubt by making this explicit, amending the MOP(S) Act to require parliamentarian to provide reasons when they dismiss an employee from employment. This recognises that employees have a right to know why they have been dismissed and ensures dismissals under the MOP(S) Act follow best practice. The bill is amending the WHS Act to clarify that parliamentarians are officers of the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Work Health and Safety Act.

The Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provide important frameworks to protect against discrimination in the workplace and to encourage diversity. The bill would amend the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to clarify that these laws apply to persons employed or engaged under the MOP(S) Act to put beyond doubt that these employees have protection from age and disability discrimination. These amendments to the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 implement recommendation 24 of the Jenkins report and will bring these acts in line with amendments made to the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 in 2021.

This bill builds on the work that has already been taken to progress and implement the report's recommendations and make Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces safe and respectful for all participants. This is something that our country needs across a broad range of workplaces and more. This is not a problem in our country confined just to workplaces; this is a problem across our country in the homes and lives of Australians, particularly women. This is a serious matter for our country, and I, for one, am pleased that this has come up for debate in our country, in our parliament. Of course, I'm sorry for the individuals who have been hurt in this place and who have had to play out in the media very private matters. That is never easy. And so I'm proud that our government is standing up for the rights of those in this place and improving and making sure we have a better Australia for all.

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