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A report into work culture in the NSW Parliament has catalogued a series of shocking incidents in the halls of power – from an MP telling a staffer her breasts looked ‘good in that’ to allegations of rape.
The review, by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, revealed five people have claimed they were victims of rape or attempted rape while working in the building in the past five years.
The shocking allegations – by three unnamed men and two women – were made in an anonymous survey of staff members.
Many detail how they were subjected to bullying or harassment at the hands of senior colleagues and elected politicians.
A report into workplace culture in the NSW Parliament (pictured) was handed down today
One woman said of her time working for an MP: ‘Some days you would walk into [the office] and they would make a comment that was inappropriate [such as] ”jeez your boobs look good in that”…’
Another person said: ‘When I first started [a Departmental staff member] said ”oh look, we’ve got a pretty new face”, I didn’t know how to discourage that kind of comment.’
One worker said they were touched by a colleague, saying: ‘I had a colleague in the Department who was quite handsy, patted me on the bum’.
Others said it was ‘normalised’ for MPs or senior staff to have sex with juniors.
‘It felt like the 1970s, old rich white men employing these beautiful young women in their 20s,’ one worker said.
Five people have claimed they were victims of rape or attempted rape during their time working in the NSW Parliament in the past five years. Pictured: Premier Perrottet
More than a third of the sexual assault claims that workers said they had heard of occurred in NSW’s Parliament House, with others occurring after work drinks.
It is not clear how many of the five claims related to rape or attempted rape. The alleged perpetrators have also not been named.
The alleged victims were all under 55 and most were between 25 and 34.
The independent review was commissioned last year after several complaints were raised about the abuse of staff.
I have read the report. It is sobering, confronting and unacceptable
Premier Dominic Perrottet
Alongside the rape claims, it contained allegations of bullying and harassment.
The review says that some MPs’ offices were ‘well-known hotspots’ for bullying.
One unnamed MP was accused of enjoying ‘bringing grown men to tears’.
A staffer told the review: ‘Employees are bullied, traumatised and no legitimate action can be taken.’
Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Premier Dominic Perrottet vowed to weed out MPs who behave inappropriately and to make parliament safe.
‘I have read the report. It is sobering, confronting and unacceptable,’ he said.
‘Every workplace across our state should be free from harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault but this is not the case in the New South Wales Parliament.
‘Parliamentarians are leaders and role models in our society. They should lead from the front.
‘Clearly, we have a culture in the New South Wales Parliament that over time has become in many instances toxic and is wrong.
‘If parliamentarians cannot lead and provide an environment where workplace is safe, what hope to be have for other workplaces across our great state?’
Ms Broderick’s staff interviewed several alleged victims over the course of the review. In her report she reveals that many felt unsupported.
‘Of those who said during interviews that they reported the incidents, none were provided with any meaningful support or validation of their experiences,’ Ms Broderick wrote.
‘All those who shared stories of sexual assault with the Review Team via an interview were women who had been sexually assaulted by men.
‘This may indicate that there are additional barriers for men, especially gay and bisexual men, and for trans and gender diverse people, to share their experiences.’
Mr Perrottet said the report only marked the beginning of cultural reform at NSW parliament and pledged to follow through on its recommendations.
They included strengthening internal policies and codes of conduct, reducing alcohol use, boosting support services and monitoring ‘well-known hotspots’ for bullying.
‘This must end, it ends today,’ Mr Perrottet said.
Only one in four people working in the building participated in the report, including MPs, cleaning, security and catering staff.
Health Minister Bronnie Taylor told people who were responsible for some of the behaviour to leave NSW parliament.
‘You know who you are, and my very strong advice to you is that you do not belong in the parliament of NSW,’ she said.
Alongside the rape claims, the report contained allegations of bullying and harassment. Pictured: NSW Parliament