SENATOR DON FARRELL
SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SPORT AND TOURISM
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
 
TANYA PLIBERSEK MP 
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
 
SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
 
PARLIAMENTARY WORKPLACE CULTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE
 

Labor supports the independent review into parliamentary workplace culture announced by the Government today and welcomes the appointment of Ms Kate Jenkins to lead the process.
 
The safety and wellbeing of staff must be the number one priority. This review is crucial to ensuring current and future staff are always safe at work.
 
Labor has provided consistent input and suggestions to the government on how the review can be strengthened, to make sure our national Parliament is a model of best practice in the prevention and handling of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
 
We welcome the government incorporating some of those suggestions in the framework announced today.
 
Labor will immediately be requesting a briefing with Commissioner Kate Jenkins, to seek further details of the review’s operations and a guarantee of complete privacy and confidentiality for participating staff.
 
We encourage all our staff, both current and former, to participate fully in the review to ensure their experiences and concerns are heard.
 
This first step on the path towards improving parliamentary workplace culture is well overdue, and we must make the most of this opportunity to achieve real and lasting change.
 
FRIDAY, 5 MARCH 2021