The New South Wales cabinet has approved $15m to carry out changes recommended in a scathing report that uncovered systemic bullying, five alleged sexual assaults and widespread harassment within the state’s parliament last year.
The money will fund 10 staff working to implement the Broderick report’s 31 recommendations, including support services, training and progress monitoring.
It comes after the Liberal party launched an investigation into upper house member Taylor Martin following allegations that he sent offensive text messages to a woman, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Martin unreservedly apologised over the weekend and said he would “fully cooperate” with the process during which time he will not sit in the party room.
The parliament’s independent complaints office, set up prior to the report’s release, has received eight complaints in the past nine months – two of which related to bullying, harassment or inappropriate conduct.
One complaint, which has since been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, related to the misuse of allowances of entitlements. No adverse findings have been made in any of the matters.
Some of those who gave evidence to the Broderick inquiry, and parliamentarians who have been pushing for action, have criticised the government’s progress on reforms as opaque and slow.
A victim-survivor who gave evidence to the inquiry said she did so “in the hope that the next young person wouldn’t be destroyed in the way I was”, but felt nothing had changed since the report’s release last August.
“It’s not surprising nothing has changed when more than half of the instances of sexual harassment were perpetrated by the politicians who get to make all the decisions,” she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“There is no accountability, no transparency and these conversations are still happening behind closed doors.”
The independent review of parliamentary workplaces released its findings last August and called for the creation of “parliamentary advisory group” to help involve staff and victim-survivors in the implementation of recommendations.
Despite meeting multiple times last year, the group has not been involved in any meetings with parliamentary officials since the election.
“[We] can scream until we’re blue in the face about what to change but at the end of the day we don’t have access to the button to push,” one member of the group said.
“If they’re not willing and capable of doing it, then nothing’s going to change.”
She hoped the process would now be able to move forward after a change in government and members of the parliamentary executive.
Before the March state election, the parliament apologised to victims and thanked them for coming forward, amid concerns about the way the statements were drafted and delivered.
The inquiry, led by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, found sexual harassment and everyday sexism occurred at unacceptable rates.
More than a third of respondents said they had been bullied or sexually harassed over the past five years.
The premier, Chris Minns, said the report “made clear the size of the challenges in our workplace” and that the government was committed to implementing all of its recommendations.
“Everyone has a right to a safe workplace,” he said.
While welcoming progress, advisory group member and Greens upper house MP Abigail Boyd said the lack of consultation before the funding was approved was concerning.
“The failure to consult with the broad and diverse groupings within parliament is contrary to the Broderick report and does cause me some concern,” she said.
“It is easy to throw money at a problem but it’s much harder to do the long-term, often messy, structural and cultural change work that’s actually required.”
The lower house speaker, Greg Piper, along with his upper house counterpart, Ben Franklin, is part of the parliamentary executive group that is helping drive the implementation of the recommendations.
Piper said the report was “front of mind” and that they want its recommendations “effectively implemented with real buy-in from members and staff”.
The parliament’s independent complaints officer can investigate minor breaches of members’ code of conduct and the pecuniary interests disclosure scheme, as well as allegations of bullying, assessment and inappropriate behaviour of members.
Only current MPs and staff can make complaints.
A parliamentary spokesperson said there was a commitment to ensure it has “safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces”.
“Work under way is strengthening our practices so that everyone who works at or visits NSW Parliament House and our electorate offices feels safe and supported,” the spokesperson 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
