Peta Murphy (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

MURPHY () (): If there's one thing about politics that unites people across my community, it's a deeply held—almost desperate—wish for better standards: better standards of behaviour, of debate and of integrity. The despair and cynicism about politics, the loss of trust, and the distinct and depressing feeling that those who are currently in power just aren't held to the same standards as your average person but are in it for themselves and their mates and not for their community have only increased under this Morrison government, with the scandals, the pork-barrelling and the displays of, quite frankly, bullying, macho behaviour that this government—this Prime Minister—has been known for.

The Set the standard report released today by Commissioner Jenkins revealed distressing statistics: one in three parliamentary workplace staff experiencing sexual harassment and more than half experiencing bullying, sexual harassment, or actual or attempted assault. But it also put forward reforms to make this place—parliament, politics and government—better. How is it that members of parliament don't have a code of conduct? It's just not good enough.

I participated in the Jenkins review and I welcome and support Commissioner Jenkins's recommendations, particularly the holding of parliamentarians to account for their behaviour by an independent parliamentary standards commission. It is what I've called for and what I'll keep working towards achieving. It's my promise to my community. (Time expired)