Federal parliament’s workplace support service has handled 30 complaints of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and assault in its first nine months of operation.
Figures from the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service’s annual report show the body handled 339 complaints in its first few months of operation.
Between October 2023 and the end of June 2024, 30 of the cases managed by the services concerned rape or sexual assault, assault, sexual harassment, harassment, stalking or intimidation.
A further 33 cases in the nine-month timeframe were about bullying.
The report said 62 cases involved family or domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, while there were 90 cases of workplace conflict being managed.
The support service was established after a recommendation from the landmark Set the Standard report, which examined widespread misconduct in federal parliament.
Health Minister Mark Butler said more needed to be done to address workplace conduct at Parliament House.
“It’s really concerning, but as many who have worked in parliament or around parliament for a long time perhaps have said, it’s not entirely surprising,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“This is a workplace that really does need to lift its standards, and I think putting that process or that structure in place is an important first step. People need to be held accountable for poor behaviour.
“This process is starting to work, but I think this report really concerningly shows that parliament still has a way to go.”
MPs passed laws earlier this year to establish an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission, with powers to investigate workplace conduct and enforce a behavioural code.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said it was on MPs and senators to make Parliament House a safe workplace.
“What these numbers today demonstrate that after 12 months of reforms, it shows that we’ve created an environment where people feel comfortable to come forward,” he told Nine’s Today program.
“We’ve got to create that environment, and I think we’re doing that and these numbers demonstrate that those reforms are slowly working, but we can all do better, whether it be in Parliament House or outside Parliament House.”
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
