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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-18 Daily Xml
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Resolutions

Review of Harassment in the South Australian Parliament Workplace

Consideration of message No. 103 from the House of Assembly.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:21): I move:

That the council concur with the resolution of the House of Assembly contained in message No. 103 for the appointment of a joint committee on recommendations arising from the equal opportunity commissioner's report into harassment in the parliament workplace, that the council be represented on the joint committee by four members of whom three shall form the quorum necessary to be present at all sittings of the committee, and that the members of the joint committee to represent the Legislative Council be the honourable President, the Hon. Ms Pnevmatikos, the Hon. Ms Bonaros and the mover.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:22): I rise today to support the motion to establish a joint committee to inquire into and report on the recommendations arising from the equal opportunity commissioner's report into harassment in this workplace. We are all aware of the report. We are all aware of the specific instances that directly led to the report being prepared at this time, and I suggest we are all aware of instances of inappropriate behaviour in this workplace.

The report covered direct and potentially criminal behaviour but also insidious behaviour, that insidious behaviour that is sometimes referred to as everyday sexism or everyday harassment. It is an appropriate term in some ways because some women do indeed experience this every day—every day in the workplace. For any workplace, that is inappropriate, and in this workplace, where we are supposed to be not only setting the laws but also setting an example, it is even more inappropriate.

From being looked up and down to comments with a double meaning, supposed jokes that relate to their private lives, suggestive comments and unnecessary physical closeness, the list is long. It reflects a mindset that men have a right to sexual gratification, that men have a right to leering and that men have a right to objectify women. It is a mindset that affects the status of every woman in society, and it is a mindset that should not be present in this workplace in particular.

As we know, some people will say, 'Well, why isn't such behaviour reported?', as if to imply that if it is not reported then it does not happen. As we know from the commissioner's report, the mechanisms to do so in this workplace are difficult, flawed, confusing and potentially, in some areas, also pretty much non-existent.

To paraphrase one of the speakers at Monday's rally, no-one should have to endure unwanted sexual attention because they have children to support, meaning they need to keep their job, or they have bills to pay, meaning they need to keep their job, or because of other instances that mean that, because of power imbalances and because of rank economics, they cannot afford to report. That is how they feel; that is how these inappropriate behaviours remain unaddressed.

I am very glad that this also includes drafting a code of conduct for members of parliament. Hopefully, that code of conduct will go some way towards not only identifying the sorts of behaviours that are inappropriate but perhaps also allowing members and staff in this place to increase their own self-awareness so that they are aware of these behaviours in themselves and also to address the issue of bullying, which is a topic that is also worthy of further discussion.

We need to ensure that in this committee the implementation and the subsequent review of all of these matters are considered with due attention and with due resources. I therefore commend the motion.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:25): In concluding the debate, I know that all other members who have not spoken have indicated that they support the motion. I thank the Hon. Ms Scriven for her contribution. I will say that I agree with the comments she has made and indeed other members have made on any number of occasions.

I will say that, whilst the overwhelming majority of people who have been offended against will be women, I can indicate—and it is a matter of the public record—that there are a small minority of other cases. In one well-known case, a former female Labor member of the House of Assembly on a regular basis used to inappropriately touch the backside of male members of parliament, both in the members' bar and elsewhere. So it is not something which is just gender specific.

It is overwhelmingly women who suffer the sorts of issues that the honourable member has outlined, but I can indicate in the nature of the discussions that have gone on that there are men who have been offended against by women members of parliament in this place, and that will be part of the discussion that will go on in terms of how we manage these sorts of processes. I am sure the Hon. Ms Scriven would agree that anyone offended against on the basis of this should have the right to be able to complain somewhere in relation to behaviour of an offending either member or staff member in relation to these particular issues.

With that, I welcome the Hon. Ms Scriven's contribution to the debate, and I am going to wish the committee, Mr President, with yourself and other members, including myself, warmest regards in trying to meet the challenges that confront that particular committee in terms of what it is being asked to do.

Motion carried.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I move:

That it be an instruction to the joint committee that the joint committee be authorised to disclose or publish, as it thinks fit, any evidence or documents presented to the joint committee prior to such evidence or documents being reported to the parliament.

Motion carried.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I move:

That Legislative Council standing order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the joint committee is examining witnesses unless the joint committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the joint committee is deliberating.

Motion carried.

The PRESIDENT: I note the absolute majority.

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