Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The standards you walk past are the standards you accept. It's clear that during the 46th Parliament there were allegations of harassment and bullying. Frankly, it was unacceptable. This is the highest decision-making body in the country, and we must set the standard. That is why I am proud that the Albanese Labor government is introducing a bill to establish the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission, which is about delivering recommendation 22 of the Set the standard report. What this seeks to do is hold politicians to account. For too long we have been in a place where politicians could not be held to account. Now there will be consequences if people are found to have engaged in bullying or harassment. This includes things such as fines of up to five per cent of your salary and being kicked off committees.

This is a place where everyone should feel safe. It doesn't matter what your gender, sex or race is. Everyone deserves to have a safe workplace. It doesn't matter whether you're at a bar, a mine site or the federal parliament. We deserve better. The Australian public deserves better.

See this speech in context