Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] The apologies provided by both the Prime Minister and opposition leader of this parliament are simply virtue-signalling, hollow statements. The opposition leader and wannabe Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, oversaw one of the greatest smear campaigns of a sexual harassment victim in this parliament. Rather than address the actions of the perpetrator, Mr Slipper, Mr Albanese ran defence and provided the millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to further prolong, torment and victimise the victim. This, in turn, forced the victim to acquire more than $4 million worth of legal bills that he remains financially responsible for. While an act of grace was provided by Labor to pay for Mr Slipper's multimillion-dollar legal bill, the victim has been left fearful of bankruptcy with a $4 million debt. Where is the apology and act of grace to Mr Ashby?

What saddens victims of the sexual harassment that continues to occur in this parliament is the fact that most victims have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements in return for cash settlements. Victims live with the burden of knowing the perpetrators are free to carry on with their jobs, their stature and their positions without any fallout. The act of cover-up of sexual harassment by political parties is disgraceful. If they were truly remorseful for the behaviour of current and former politicians, they would release the victims from confidentiality clauses and let them speak freely of the pain and suffering their members caused.

I am aware of at least three confidential payouts made to staff of the former Speaker. These were orchestrated by senior members of both the Liberal and Labor parties. It is not the responsibility of the taxpayer to pay out victims; it should be the politician. Only then will it make them pull their heads in. Politicians should not be treated as protected species. Too many of you have blood on your hands and the standard some of you have set as parliamentarians is shameful, both to the people who work alongside you and to the greater public. It's no wonder some staffers think it's funny to film themselves masturbating on MPs' desks and sending it on to their colleagues.

I take my hat off to Brittany Higgins for coming forward. Brittany Higgins' alleged rape was not committed by a member of parliament but by a work colleague. And yet it was used to a political level for point scoring—something the Labor Party went out of its way to avoid during the Slipper case. The public sees through the pathetic attempt to deal with the subject of sexual harassment within Parliament House and, while I sympathise—truly sympathise—with each of the victims, it should be the perpetrator they're seeking an apology from, not me.