House debates Questions without Notice

Sexual Harassment

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 House of Representatives

Tanya Plibersek

Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

2:01 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. All members of parliament should agree that anyone who brings forward a sexual harassment complaint should be afforded confidentiality. Can the Prime Minister explain to the House the policy principles his government applies in protecting the confidentiality of people who bring forward sexual harassment complaints? Does the Prime Minister agree that no member of parliament should publicly disclose the identity of people who make confidential sexual harassment complaints?

Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

Of course I agree that complaints should be dealt with confidentially, and of course members of parliament who are privy to those complaints should not disclose the identity of the complainant. Now, if the honourable member wishes to make an allegation against any member of parliament, she should stand up and do so.