The plan to improve culture and conduct in the nation's most powerful building

An independent commission would become "the enforcement arm of those codes of conduct," Senator Katy Gallagher said.

The federal government wants an independent commission to investigate misconduct in parliament and penalise perpetrators as part a planned of suite of changes aimed at improving culture within the nation's most powerful building.

It would form part of the government's response to the to the landmark Set the Standard report, which revealed high rates of bullying and sexual harassment within the parliamentary workplace, would enforce standards of conduct, including possible sanctions against politicians.