Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher

The Albanese Government will introduce a Bill to Parliament today to establish the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC), delivering on Recommendation 22 of Set the Standard, the Australian Human Rights Commission’s report into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.

The IPSC will be an independent workplace investigation and sanctions framework that will enforce behaviour codes for Parliamentarians, MOPS staff and other people who work in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.

The Albanese Government is committed to improving workplace behaviour and culture at Parliament House. The IPSC builds on significant work already done during this Parliament including establishing the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service through legislation.

Draft Behaviour Codes for members of parliament and their staff were endorsed in principle in February 2023 and will be formally adopted following the passage of the IPSC legislation. These codes set out expectations for behaviour, including requirements to foster respectful and inclusive workplaces, and a prohibition on bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and assault, and discrimination.

The Minister for Finance, Senator Katy Gallagher, says improving the culture at Parliament House is a cross-party effort.

“The 2021 Set the Standard report laid bare the serious issues of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault at Parliamentary workplaces.

“Since coming to Government and in conjunction with the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce we’ve been working hard to put the systems in place so that people can raise workplace complaints, and when complaints are substantiated, that both staff and parliamentarians are held to account for their behaviour.

‘‘I thank members of the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce and staff consultative group for their feedback and collaboration in good faith as we have prepared this legislation for introduction. I look forward to working across the Parliament to pass this legislation as soon as possible."

The types of sanctions imposed will vary depending on whether the respondent is a current or former parliamentarian, MOPS employee or other parliamentary workplace participant.

The Government has committed $3.8 million in 2024-25 to the PWSS for initial funding to establish the IPSC from 1 October 2024, subject to the passage of legislation.