Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) | Hansard source

Like many Australians, I've been disappointed, saddened and, at times, angered to hear allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault in this place. I'm shocked that, according to the Jenkins report, over half of all people currently in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces have reported at least one instance of bullying, sexual harassment or actual or attempted sexual assault in their workplace. I'm heartened, however, that some of the commission's recommendations are already bearing fruit here today.

I have felt keenly the need to make improvements to ensure that every Commonwealth parliamentary office, both here in the parliament and in our electorate offices, are safe and respectful places for every employee and to make sure that the parliament really does set the standard for workplace culture, not the floor. While her matter is before the courts, Ms Brittany Higgins's act of sharing her allegations, I believe, has catalysed much-needed change, and I thank Ms Higgins for her bravery and I thank every person who made one of the 1,700 individual contributions to Commissioner Jenkins's review. Each of you has courageously shared your experiences, contributing to what I hope will be a true and meaningful change.

I am proud to have worked with fellow crossbench members in crafting a letter signed by the whole of the then crossbench urging the government to launch an independent review into the workplaces of parliamentarians and their staff. The establishment of this review on 5 March last year was a vital step on the path to the bill we debate today. Last year the parliament also passed the Archives and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. This bill has made changes to ensure confidence of submissions to the independent review could be maintained to encourage those who have experienced harassment or abuse to come forward and share their stories. Again, the crossbench played an important role in this.

This bill bears valuable fruit from the Set the standard report tabled on 30 November 2021, implementing recommendations 17 and 24 to require a higher and a safe standard of behaviour in parliamentary workplaces. I support amendments to the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 that strengthen and clarify the employment rights of employees under the act, remove doubt that the Fair Work Act 2009 applies to those employees and require that parliamentarians provide written reasons where they dismiss an employee from employment. I support the amendment to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that clarify that parliamentarians are officers of the Commonwealth for the purposes of that act and I support the amendment of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to put beyond doubt that employees under the MOP(S) Act, as we all know it, are protected from both age and disability discrimination in their employment and engagement.

The introduction of this legislation, the Parliamentary Workplace Reform (Set the Standard Measures No. 1) Bill 2022, is a great first step of the many that are needed. Other important steps, such as the outcome of the current review of the MOP(S) Act, are eagerly awaited. I commend this bill to the House and urge that focus and action on these reforms continue, even as we head into an election. Hearing a broad cross-section of members speak today, I believe that this is an issue on which we can grasp the opportunity provided by strong bipartisan support to achieve more meaningful change.

See this speech in context