Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins does not think federal parliament is safer for women since her alleged rape and amid fresh allegations of bad behaviour by politicians.
Ms Higgins thinks “the prime minister’s word is a little wobbly” when it comes to fixing the culture of Parliament House.
Her allegation she was raped in a minister’s office in 2019 triggered a national reckoning over the treatment of women and reviews including one by Sex Discrimination Commission Kate Jenkins, released this week.
It found bullying and sexual harassment rife in federal parliament. One in three people surveyed said they had been sexually harassed and about a quarter said their harasser was a politician.
Politicians’ behaviour is under heightened scrutiny amid allegations aired by Education Minister Alan Tudge’s former press secretary Rachelle Miller.
The minister has stood aside from his portfolio while the prime minister’s department investigates claims of emotional and, on one occasion, physical abuse.
Ms Miller alleged Mr Tudge kicked her from his hotel bed and onto the floor during a work trip the morning after they’d been drinking.
“All of us who have survived awful experiences in this workplace tried to reach out and seek change many, many times before we went to the media. This is our last resort,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“Nothing will work until the people with power, the male parliamentarians who perpetrate this awful, unacceptable behaviour are held accountable.”
Mr Tudge “completely and utterly” rejected Ms Miller’s version of events but agreed to Mr Morrison’s request to stand aside.
Separately, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has taken personal leave after being accused of telling Liberal politician Hollie Hughes “at least I keep my legs shut” on the floor of parliament.
Scott Morrison has not agreed to implement in full all of Ms Jenkins 28 recommendations aimed at fixing the culture of parliament.
“We don’t know, when he gives an indication that he’s supportive of policy, that he’s actually going to commit to it,” Ms Higgins told ABC radio on Thursday.
“Unless we get it in plain English terms, I just don’t have that innate trust that it’s going to happen.”
Ms Higgins thinks her situation would be handled more sensitively now, but isn’t confident the structural change needed is there yet.
“My assault itself wasn’t about me, it was about power. The way I was subsequently handled wasn’t about me, it was about maintaining power,” she said.
“I don’t think, fundamentally, anything has changed internally within the building, policy-wise, that would … stop this from happening to another woman.”
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By Georgie Moore in Canberra
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