Sexual harassment rife in Aussie Parliament, report finds

SYDNEY • A landmark report released yesterday aimed at cleaning up a toxic workplace culture in Australia's Parliament and other government offices found that one in three employees had suffered sexual harassment.

Just over a quarter of those that experienced sexual harassment said a Member of Parliament was responsible, in the poll of over 1,700 individuals.

Some 37 per cent of staff said they had suffered bullying.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that his government will likely support the report's 28 recommendations, which include setting targets for gender balance and diversity in all parliamentary roles. He said the report addresses "the power imbalance, the gender imbalance, the lack of accountability for behaviour, as well as understanding the challenging and demanding work environment" in Parliament.

He had ordered the independent inquiry to be conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins after thousands of women rallied across the country to protest against sexual violence.

"While we heard of positive experiences of work within the Parliament, there were others who shared experiences of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault," Ms Jenkins said in the report.

Mr Morrison's government has been criticised for refusing to hold an inquiry into claims that former attorney-general Christian Porter raped a fellow member of a school debating team in 1988 - allegations he denies. Mr Porter has since resigned from the ministry.

There was also criticism of Mr Morrison's handling of allegations that former government media adviser Brittany Higgins was raped by a colleague in a minister's office in 2019.

A person interviewed for the report said: "It is a man's world and you are reminded of it every day thanks to the looks up and down you get, to the representation in the parliamentary chambers, to the preferential treatment politicians give senior male journalists."

Many said the workplace had a "male-dominated and testosterone-fuelled culture". Rather than being held accountable, people who engaged in misconduct were often rewarded for their behaviour.

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