Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Can I deal with the matters which were raised by Senator McAllister. I have a very high regard for Senator McAllister, and I'm not going to question the sincerity with which she raised her matters today. But let me say this. As someone who, in a previous life, before coming to this place had professional responsibility for investigating claims of sexual harassment or bullying in the workplace, and who was responsible for enforcing codes of conduct and dealing with extraordinarily delicate issues, I am firmly of the view—firmly of the view—that such matters should not, in the first instance, be ventilated in the public domain and certainly not on television. I am firmly of the view that appropriate procedures of investigation and serious responses raised in pursuit of complaints should occur, in the first instance, in private. I say this primarily due to the issue of respect. It is respect for the complainant, it is respect for the person who is subject to the complaint and it is respect for their families, for their children and for everyone close to them. These can be extraordinarily delicate matters—they are, typically, highly personal—and have complicated backgrounds. I think it diminishes this place for those matters to be canvassed prior to an appropriate investigation taking place. It shows a lack of respect for the individuals involved, it shows a lack of respect for their families and it shows a lack of respect for due process. I say that as someone who believes passionately that all individuals have a right to a safe workplace where they are free of sexual harassment, workplace bullying and discrimination. In the event that matters are raised privately and have not been given sufficient serious attention—but only after such processes have occurred—then, I think, relevant parties have a right to blow the whistle, to raise issues and to say: 'I raised a complaint behind closed doors. I'm not happy with the seriousness with which it was investigated, and, on that basis, I'm elevating it in good faith.'

We've seen some episodes in corporate Australia recently where aggrieved complainants have taken those steps of going public and blowing the whistle and there have been consequences for some leaders in corporate Australia as a result of that whistle having been blown. In my view, it was entirely fit and proper that that whistle was blown and that those consequences flowed from the complaints, which were not adequately or appropriately dealt with. But I think it is incumbent upon all of us to respect due process and to respect the legitimate expectation of everyone involved in such personal matters that their rights, including to privacy, will be dealt with respectfully and with sober deliberation so that, where possible, matters can be considered in private and confidentially, giving respect to all parties involved, including their families and their children. I think that is what we should all aspire to.