Alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins has welcomed a decision to establish an independent complaints body for federal politicians and staffers, despite the fact it will not be able to investigate her allegation of sexual assault.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham confirmed on Monday the complaints body would be set up by September and be overseen by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner.
The body was a key recommendation of the report into how federal parliament responds to serious incidents by senior bureaucrat Stephanie Foster.
The review was sparked by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who earlier this year went public about her alleged rape in the office of cabinet minister Linda Reynolds before the 2019 election.
However, the limited scope of the body means Ms Higgins’ complaint – or others like it from previous parliamentary terms – will not be looked at.
Despite this, Ms Higgins on Monday welcomed the government’s decision to accept all 10 recommendations of the Foster review.
“These reforms, most notably the independent complaints mechanism, will ensure Parliament House is a safer workplace for all future employees,” she said.
The complaints body will be independent and confidential and look at assault, sexual assault, sexual harassment and allegations of systemic bullying or harassment.
Face-to-face sexual harassment training will also be made mandatory for Coalition ministers and staff.
The Finance Minister said a pilot program was already under way, with expectations it will be ramped up in September.
However, the training will not be immediately available to all other parliamentarians and their staff.
Ministers who refuse training run the risk of being sacked from the front bench, while MPs and senators will be “named and shamed”.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that his expectation is that all of his ministers will need to undertake that training, and that would be an expectation placed upon those where he can apply it,” Senator Birmingham said.
“The ultimate consequence is to cease to be a minister. I trust that all get on and undertake training as and when it‘s made available.
“But for the rest of the parliament, it will be for the parliament to consider exactly how that name and shame function may work. And for those who may refuse to do so.”
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2021-07-26 07:00:59Z
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