Australia's Parliament Faces Workplace Safety Crisis

Australia's parliamentary workplace is undergoing scrutiny following reports of severe misconduct including sexual assault, stalking, and intimidation. Over nine months, 30 serious complaints were reported. The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, an initiative for federal workers, was launched after a 2021 report highlighted widespread harassment.

Australia's parliament is under the spotlight again with reports of 30 serious workplace misconduct cases, including sexual assault, in just nine months. The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that despite the establishment of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service in October 2023, issues persist.

The service, intended as a confidential support system for federal parliament employees, reported that these concerns were part of 339 total cases logged between October 2023 and June 2024. While the severity of the complaints is alarming, it remains unclear if any cases have been referred to law enforcement.

This comes in the wake of a 2021 government report showing one in three employees experienced sexual harassment. Recent incidents, including allegations against senators and a high-profile rape case, underline the ongoing challenge of creating a safe workplace environment.

(With inputs from agencies.)