Systemic bullying and widespread sexual harassment has been uncovered by a “confronting” review of New South Wales parliament that found about half of incidents were perpetrated by MPs.
Five respondents to the review, conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, said they had experienced actual or attempted sexual assaults at work.
The review uncovered “systemic and multi-directional bullying, with more than a third of respondents saying they had been bullied or sexually harassed over the past five years.
Certain offices were “well-known hotspots” for harmful behaviours and high rates of staff turnover, the report found, with the negative environment often having a “devastating” impact on people.
“Parliamentary workplaces have not been safe, inclusive or welcoming,” the report read.
“A resounding call for change echoes through these parliamentary workplaces, calling for behaviours, cultures, mindsets and policies that enable harmful behaviour to be eradicated, as well as for a real investment in leadership and education.”
The review found one in five people reported being sexually harassed, with higher rates experienced by young women, and workers who were sexually diverse or culturally and linguistically diverse.
More than 40% of the sexual harassment incidents were perpetrated by an elected member of parliament, according to the report. More than half (52%) of bullying incidents were by MPs.
The review found 2% of people – three men and two women – had experienced actual or attempted sexual assault while working in a parliamentary workplace. Almost 10% of people said they had heard about or witnessed at least one sexual assault.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, said he would “absolutely” try to weed out people in the parliament behaving poorly.
“[The report] 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 NSW parliament.
“If you are involved in this behaviour, you should leave immediately.”
He said it was important that people were able to come forward anonymously, as they had done during the review, and would work across the parliament to improve the reporting systems.
Almost 450 people working in NSW parliamentary workplaces – more than a quarter of those eligible – took part in the review.
Broderick’s team also conducted more than 100 confidential one-on-one interviews, seven group sessions and received 58 written submissions.
The review found the drivers of poor behaviour included the unequal distribution of power between parliamentarians and staff, a lack of gender and ethnic diversity in formal decision-making roles, the unequal distribution of accountability and inconsistent behavioural expectations.
Broderick also found the “highly pressured and political nature of the working environment” contributed to the issues, as well as long hours, tenuous employment arrangements and alcohol consumption in parliament.
The review found people were not aware of the policies in place designed to keep them safe, compounded by a lack of trust in the system and a “particular concern relating to confidentiality and a perceived high risk of retribution” if formal reports are made.
As revealed by Guardian Australia on Wednesday, the report also contains a raft of recommendations including a review of the Members of Parliament Staff Act under which staffers are employed and further leadership and management training for MPs and senior staff.
Broderick recommended the parliament consider forming an independent body to “provide advice and early intervention, receive and investigate reports and support all parties in a complaint”.
Key to the success of any reform, the review found, was the identification of those “hotspots” offices and the commissioning of an independent evaluation of progress in two to three years’ time.
The review found there were “key gaps … regarding harmful behaviours in the respective codes of conduct for MPs in both houses, as well as the lack of structural protection for MPs’ staff experiencing bullying, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct”.
It recommended a strengthening of the codes of conduct for each house of parliament and a review of the policies covering bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in NSW parliament.
The review did not investigate any claims or make any findings about specific allegations or individuals but did provide referrals for people “seeking an investigation” to relevant authorities.
The opposition leader, Chris Minns, said the review painted a “dark picture” and the response needed to be bipartisan.
“It’s my view that neither side or any side in politics comes to this issue with clean hands,” he said.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues in Australia is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732) and the crisis support service Lifeline, 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org
