Australian Women Lawyers association writes to PM Scott Morrison, urging him to fix Parliament’s toxic culture

Australia’s top female lawyers have called on the Prime Minister to take “urgent” steps to make federal parliament a “safe and equal workplace”. The Australian Women Lawyers association has penned a letter to Scott Morrison, Women’s Minister Marise Payne and Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is also the minister responsible for workplace, health and safety. “The recent public discussion triggered by Brittany Higgins’ case, and the ongoing longstanding discussion about sexist conduct in Australia’s Parliament highlights once again the need for appropriate work practices, standards and expected norms in the nation’s workplaces,” Professor Kim Rubenstein and Trish Bergin, co-directors of equality group 50/50 by 2030, said. “As the expression of the national will and Australia’s most high-profile workplace, the Parliament is not just any workplace. If Parliament can get the culture right, it will set the standard and expectations across Australian workplaces.” More than 43 leading legal minds, social organisations and peak lawyer associations from the around the country have co-signed the letter which is urging Mr Morrison to allow Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins to help fix the toxic culture within the corridors of power in Canberra. The letter applauded the Government for launching a number of inquiries into workplace practices following Ms Higgins’ shocking allegations she was sexually assaulted in Senator Linda Reynolds’ ministerial office by a senior male Liberal colleague in 2019. “Prime Minister, we commend your announcement that you have asked your department to advise you on how to establish an external complaints’ handling process that will allow women to make complaints at arm’s length from their employers,” the letter reads. “In addition, we urge you and the Minister for Women and Attorney General to go further and launch a full review of parliament as a safe and equal workplace. “It is time for Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner to conduct a national review of parliament as a safe and equal workplace.” The signatories, including Women Lawyers of WA president barrister Clare Thompson and Professor Nareen Young who contributed to the Do Better review into racism at the Collingwood Football Club, all agree Ms Jenkins’ office — which is independent from the public service — should be charged with the task as her office is “the most appropriate body to carry out this review”. They are yet to hear a response from Mr Morrison, Minister Payne or the Attorney-General.