Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the first annual report of the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce for tabling. First, I want to acknowledge and reiterate the Set the standard report findings that an unacceptably high rate of people, particularly women, in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces experienced bullying, sexual harassment, or actual or attempted sexual assault whilst at work. This misconduct is unacceptable, and we acknowledge the grave impact it had or continues to have on current and former staff. Whilst we commend the progress this parliament has made, we note that there is still much more work to be done to achieve the goals we all set 12 months ago. We want to uphold the highest standards of workplace behaviour, in line with what is expected of us by the Australian public.

Since the Set the standard report was adopted by this parliament one year ago, the composition of the parliament has changed. In the 2022 election we saw the numbers of women increase, as well as the numbers of those parliamentarians elected as independents without the support of traditional political parties. These changes to the composition of parliament have no doubt brought their own cultural change. However, the report's findings remain as relevant as ever to all parliamentarians and their staff.

The Set the standard report provided a road map for the parliament to implement systemic and cultural changes in a range of areas to make Parliament House and Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces safe and respectful places to work. Over the past 12 months, leaders from across the parliament and departments have responded to the report to progress the 28 recommendations. The Set the standard report categorised 28 recommendations by just five outcomes: leadership; diversity, equality and inclusion; systems to support performance; standards, reporting and accountability; and safety and wellbeing.

Of the 28 recommendations, six have already been implemented, four have been partially implemented and 17 are in progress, noting that many of those are ongoing measures. Implementing the 28 recommendations is a shared responsibility across Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, including government, Presiding Officers, parliamentary departments, political parties and parliamentarians. Change will come with the continuous commitment and goodwill of members and senators.

Today we all recommit ourselves, with concerted effort and attention, to the recommendations of the Set the Standard review. Over the next 12 months we should see the expansion of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, to be established as an independent statutory human resource entity providing advice and training to parliamentarians and staff; the endorsement of codes of conduct for all Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces; the introduction of improved health and wellbeing services, including GP services and pharmaceutical and mental health supports; the consideration of amendments to standing orders and conventions to improve levels of safety and respect in the chamber; and the modernisation of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, the MOP(S) Act.

I acknowledge the leadership and commitment of many people for the work completed to date, including the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce, as well as the Prime Minister, the opposition leader and other party leaders. The nation is looking to this parliament to show leadership in this space, and the expectation is that we will deliver.