'Appalling' Sexual Harassment in the Australian Parliament: Nationwide Condemnations

A 7-month investigation report released on Tuesday 30 November by a government-backed commission uncovered the shocking practices undergoing in the Australian Parliament.

The report pointed out that one-third of Australia's federal parliament employees have experienced sexual assaults. Considering the social and community damages that this form of abuse causes, nationwide condemnations were expressed.

The report painted a damning picture of the workplace culture in Australia's Parliament.

During the investigations, 1,723 people and 33 organizations were interviewed, and employees shared harrowing stories about the widespread sexual harassment they had experienced.

It is noteworthy that the investigations were commissioned in February 2021 by the Australian government after the account of a former parliament employee being raped in the Parliament House and the widespread outrage triggered by the event.

Kate Jenkins, Australia's sex discrimination commissioner, who conducted the study, suggested measures to counter the power imbalances, gender inequality, and lack of accountability that, she said, "had made the Parliament a hostile workplace for many employees, especially young female staff members."

 

Shocking Facts

The review found that one in three employees of the Australian parliament—40 percent of women—have experienced sexual assaults. Moreover, an even higher percentage than for political staffers, 63% of female parliamentarians reported having been victims of attempted or actual sexual harassment.

One of the interviewees declared that: "Aspiring male politicians who thought nothing of, in one case, picking you up, kissing you on the lips, lifting you up, touching you, pats on the bottom, comments about appearance, you know, the usual… the culture allowed it."

Last February 2021, former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins, went public with allegations that she was raped in the Parliament House in March 2019.

Higgins proclaimed that she received little support from the police, explaining that she was made to feel that reporting the incident would put an end to her political career especially with the election that was just a few months away.

 

Morrison: Scandal & Elections

The Australian Prime Minister Morrison expressed his discontent, stressing that the Parliament must clean up its act.

He told reporters in Canberra: "Like anyone who works in this building, I find the statistics that are presented here, of course, appalling and disturbing," he added, "I wish I found them more surprising."

Yet, the BBC reported that Mr. Morrison has previously been accused of being "tone deaf" on issues disproportionately affecting women in the Parliament.

The news agency reported that Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who ordered the review in February after his party came under pressure over its handling of an alleged rape inside the building, said the findings were "appalling" and "disturbing."

The CNN website indicated that "Morrison is under pressure to address parliamentary culture ahead of an election due in the first half of next year. Support for his conservative coalition government fell in the wake of the rape allegation, while thousands of women marched across the country calling for greater equality."

"Such experiences leave a trail of devastation for individuals and their teams and undermine the performance of our parliament to the nation's detriment," the report mentioned.

 

Social and Community Damages

The Australian Center for the study of sexual harassment published a study entitled "The impacts of sexual assault on women." The study stated that "Sexual harassment can impact the way the victim/survivor interacts with those close to them and the community as a whole."

It elucidated that the "interpersonal relationships with intimate partners, as well as friendships and family relationships, can all be affected following sexual assault. Difficulties with communication, intimacy, trust, sexual relations, and enjoyment of social activities can all be adversely affected. Over-protectiveness of the victim may also be an issue."

The study further explained that "women may particularly avoid social situations with men, due to a heightened awareness of the potential for violence that some men are capable of."

A rape victim disclosed to the researchers "I can't stand men. I live alone and don't go out. I hate them. You don't have to believe me, though. But it's true. I wish I was dead."

A French study on the consequences of sexual harassment in work pointed out that among 40% of female victims, sexual harassment at work has given rise to numerous negative consequences: 30% have seen their health deteriorate, 28% have suffered a blockage in their career (career break, no possibility to climb the ladder, etc.) and 15% a non-renewal of their contract.

The study elucidated that anyone can be harassed at work, regardless of their physique, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion or even their personality. However, the victims are, most of the time, people very invested in their work, wanting to do well and of the female sex.

 

Nationwide Condemnation

The report was issued under the pressure of human right organizations and the nationwide protests against sexism in Australia. The protests swept the country after multiple allegations of rape and sexual harassment against politicians and parliament staffs in Austria.

The Australian Human Right commission emphasized that, "Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces. Australians, across the country, are suffering the financial, social, emotional, physical and psychological harm associated with sexual harassment. This is particularly so for women."

It added: "Sexual harassment is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act in different areas of public life. This behavior also represents a very real financial impost to the economy through lost productivity, staff turnover and other associated impacts."

It emphasized, "As Australia's national human rights institution, the Australian Human Rights Commission was tasked with undertaking this Inquiry. The Commission has an established record of undertaking initiatives aimed at addressing sexual harassment and promoting gender equality."