This week is a game-changer towards creating a safer, more respectful, and accountable environment within Australia’s parliamentary workplaces. Yesterday, Parliament passed a Bill to establish the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC), an important step in improving the culture of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.
This move follows Recommendation 22 from the “Set the Standard” report by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which highlighted the need for significant reforms. The new Commission will provide desperately needed oversight and accountability for everyone working with parliamentary workplaces.
During university, my first paid job was in the office of the indomitable Natasha Stott Despoja, where her grace, sharp intellect, and deep compassion left a lasting impression. I never could have imagined that, 18 years later, I’d find myself back where it all started—this time working on a cultural review of parliamentary workplaces listening to harrowing experiences of bullying and harassment.
The Set the Standard report was a wake-up call, exposing the pervasive issues of bullying, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault within our highest political institutions. The report found that over half (51%) of those working in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces had experienced at least one incident of such harmful behaviour.
Even more alarming was the reluctance of people to report these incidents, particularly when they involved parliamentarians, out of a pervasive fear that nothing would change. A staggering 81% of people who experienced sexual harassment did not report their experience, reflecting a deep-seated lack of trust in the existing systems of accountability.
This trust deficit was a driving force behind our recommendation for an independent body like the IPSC, which we believed was essential for restoring faith in the integrity of parliamentary workplaces.
One of the key reasons we recommended the establishment of the IPSC was to address the structural issues that allowed harmful behaviour to go unchecked. Throughout the interviews conducted during the Review, a recurring theme was the belief that there was no real accountability for misconduct, particularly when it involved those in positions of power.
Parliamentarians, who should be held to the highest standards of conduct, were often perceived as being above the rules that govern ordinary workplaces. I heard from participants of a ‘god like’ status of parliamentarian and felt they were ‘untouchable’ if they engaged in harmful behaviour.
Parliamentarians hold a unique position in that they are elected by the public and lack a direct employer. Beyond standard legal channels, their accountability is primarily to voters, with the ballot box being the main mechanism for oversight—a situation that proved to be deeply inadequate.
The IPSC is designed to change this by providing a fair, independent, and confidential reporting body with the authority to apply low-level sanctions where necessary. This could include, for example, an apology or behaviour training.
More serious sanctions such as withholding of salary through to suspension can be recommended to the relevant House to impose. Allegations of misconduct in the Chamber would be raised with the Presiding Officer in the first instance. This is not just about punishing bad behaviour but about creating a culture where respect, inclusivity, and accountability are non-negotiable.
Parliament, as the nation’s highest institution, should be the benchmark for workplace culture in Australia. It needs to lead by example, demonstrating that misconduct will not be tolerated and that everyone, regardless of their position, is held to the same standards. The establishment of the IPSC is a critical step in ensuring that Parliament sets the standard for all Australian workplaces to follow.
This new commission will oversee and enforce Codes of Conduct, holding individuals accountable for their actions through a transparent and independent process. By doing so, it will help to dismantle the power imbalances, culture and cultural norms (including silence) that have historically protected perpetrators of misconduct.
A key aspect of the IPSC’s design is the provision of safe and supported reporting options. One of the biggest barriers to reporting misconduct in parliamentary workplaces has been the fear of retaliation and the lack of trust in existing mechanisms. The IPSC must provide a confidential and trauma-informed process for reporting, ensuring that individuals feel supported throughout the process. This approach recognises the power dynamics at play in parliamentary workplaces and seeks to protect those who come forward, making it easier for them to report misconduct without fear of retribution.
The introduction of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission is more than just checking a box—it’s a bold commitment to ensuring that safety, dignity, and accountability aren’t just talking points but the standard in our parliamentary workplaces. The same issues of bullying, harassment, distrust and fear plague many Australian workplaces. The IPSC is a crucial step in transforming our parliamentary culture, ensuring respect and fairness are role modelled for the Australian community. After all, if Parliament can’t set the standard, who can?
Prabha Nandagopal is the Director of Legal on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and founder of SafeSpace@elevate, Australia’s first independent, trauma-informed reporting and support platform.