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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-06 Daily Xml
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Lucas, Hon. R.I.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:42): I seek leave under standing order 107 to address a question to the Hon. Rob Lucas, as a member of the Joint Committee on the Equal Opportunity Commissioner's Report into Harassment in the Parliament Workplace, on the topic of his commitment to that committee.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: As members are very well aware, the equal opportunity commissioner's review of this parliament has uncovered sexual harassment, misogyny and sexism in our workplace. Indeed, these issues were no surprise to many members of this place. The Hon. Rob Lucas is one of the most longstanding members of this place, and I imagine they were no surprise to him.

I note, however, that that equal opportunity report was a long time in the making. Indeed, a motion that I moved and that we took to a vote on 9 September 2020 in this place was opposed by the Hon. Rob Lucas, purportedly on behalf of the government, noting that it would need a concurrent motion of the other place and certainly ignoring the reality that you can't get a concurrent motion in one place unless you pass it in the other place, and finally opposing it on the grounds of cost, calling that the 'kicker' that the equal opportunity commissioner wanted to be paid for her work in inquiring into this place.

Eventually, justice prevailed and on 18 March, some eight weeks ago now, following finally having that equal opportunity report presented to the parliament, we saw the establishment of a select committee, the joint committee on recommendations arising from the equal opportunity commissioner's report into harassment in the parliament workplace. I note that that committee is yet to meet, and that is because the committee has been unable to attain quorum.

My question to the Hon. Rob Lucas is: is he committed to this committee and will he ensure that he provides quorum, or will he then, if he cannot do so, support the lowering of the quorum for that committee?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:44): I am absolutely committed to the committee.

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