SYDNEY: A Sydney Morning Herald report reveals that staff at the Australian parliament filed 30 serious complaints over a nine-month period, including sexual assault. They submitted these complaints to the newly established Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
The service, set up in October 2023, offers confidential support to federal parliament workers. Between October 2023 and June 2024, the service received 339 cases. Of these, 30 were serious allegations, including sexual assault, stalking, and intimidation.
However, the service did not clarify whether it referred any of these cases to the police or if any were under prosecution. This lack of clarity has raised concerns about how the service handles serious allegations.
Background to the Service
The government created the service in response to a 2021 report, which revealed that one in three parliament workers had experienced sexual harassment. The service aims to offer a safe and confidential space for workers to report incidents without fear of retaliation.
In 2023, an Australian senator reported being followed, propositioned, and touched inappropriately by another senator. This incident highlighted the need for such support services in parliament. This incident further emphasized the need for support services in parliament.
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Notable Legal Cases
The need for such services was also underscored by several high-profile legal cases. In April 2023, an Australian judge convicted a former government adviser of raping a colleague in a Parliament House office. The conviction occurred after a defamation suit was dismissed. The case drew significant national attention, especially in light of the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2022.
The Service’s Role
The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service provides a critical role in addressing workplace issues within parliament. However, the service did not provide any public comments outside of business hours when approached for further clarification.
As these serious allegations continue to emerge, questions remain about the adequacy of existing support systems and the effectiveness of parliamentary authorities in addressing such claims.
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