Hundreds of people have already come forward to take part in an independent inquiry into federal parliament’s workplace culture - but only a fraction of those are politicians.
The Australian Human Rights Commission on Monday released an update on the inquiry led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, which is examining what’s been described as a
It has heard from 345 people since being launched in March following the public rape allegation made by
But only 16 current or former politicians are among those to give evidence, with the vast majority of people currently or previously working for parliamentarians.
Another 12 current or former politicians are also scheduled to speak with the inquiry as part of a further 125 people registered to conduct an interview.
“I’m confident we are getting a high rate of engagement and that we will deliver a really useful report with findings and recommendations,” Ms Jenkins told a parliamentary inquiry on Monday.
“It will be for the parliament to act on that.”
Of the participants, approximately 72 per cent identified as female and 28 per cent as male.
Others to make submissions to the inquiry included eight volunteers, interns or students and 54 other current and former workers in parliamentary workplaces.
Submissions to the inquiry will close at the end of July, with the review to report back in November with recommendations around strengthening safeguards to prevent bullying, sexual harassment and assault.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said its findings would be vital to ensuring a safe and respectful workplace.
"This review will play a critical role in ensuring that the parliament of Australia applies the cultural and practical changes necessary to set a positive example for the nation," he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. Source: AAP
Politicians challenged to take harassment training
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews also challenged politicians to undertake sexual harassment training.
At the time of Ms Higgins’ allegation, Ms Andrews said she'd had a gutful of the workplace culture in parliament.
Recently released tender documents show the Morrison government is seeking an organisation to deliver an anti-sexual harassment program to promote a “safe and respectful workplace”.
The training would be optional and may run for just one hour.
Ms Andrews said all parliamentarians should take part.
"I would be encouraging every single politician in this building to make sure they at least attend that hour of training," she told the ABC.
"I will be making sure I am attending [and] they should go out and do that. That will be a pretty clear demonstration of their commitment and they should be held to that."
A 'turning point'
A separate parliamentary inquiry on Monday held a hearing into the government’s Sex Discrimination Act (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021.
The bill is a response to the Respect@Work report released by Ms Jenkins last year aimed at more broadly addressing culture concerns in workplaces across Australia.
Ms Jenkins said she hoped this year would be a “turning point” in “eradicating sexual harassment from our workplaces”.
“Sexual harassment is still a huge problem in Australia,” she said.
“I think most Australians are quite shocked at how it continues to exist and really almost thrive in some of our workplaces.”
She welcomed the government’s response to her report, but said it came up short by not implementing a “positive duty” on employers to eliminate sexual harassment.
“Employers need to take reasonable and proportionate action to eliminate sexual harassment,” she said.
The government is understood to be still considering whether to implement this recommendation in the report.
An earlier review of federal parliament's workplace culture Stephanie Foster recommended an independent body handle complaints of sexual harassment, assault or bullying among MPs and their staff.
