Perrottet: findings on sexual harassment in parliament ‘sobering, confronting and unacceptable’
New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet is speaking now* on the release of the report on sexual harassment within state politics ,which included allegations of rape.
Perrottet has begun his press conference with a solemn statement thanking those who came forward as part of the review and participated.
I last night received a copy of this report. I have read the report. It is sobering, confronting and unacceptable. Every workplace across our state should be free from harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault but this is not the case in the New South Wales parliament. Parliamentarians are leaders and role models in our society. They should lead from the front. Clearly, we have a culture in the New South Wales parliament that over time has become in many instances toxic and is wrong. If parliamentarians cannot lead and provide an environment where workplace is safe, what hope to be have for other workplaces across our great state?
*A previous post mistakenly said it was John Barilaro who was appearing. This was incorrect and has been fixed.
Key events
ACT records one new Covid death
One person with Covid-19 has died in Australian Capital Territory overnight, with the territory recording 474 new cases on Friday morning, 135 people in hospital, 4 in ICU and 2 on ventilation.
◾ In hospital: 135
◾ In ICU: 4
◾ Ventilated: 2
◾ Lives lost: 1
◾ Total lives lost since March 2020: 109Sadly we’ve been notified of the death of a man in his 80s with COVID-19. ACT Health extends its sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/UF5EoaFZuj
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 12, 2022
NSW mental health minister backs John Barilaro’s decision to pull out of hearing
The New South Wales mental health minister, Bronnie Taylor, has backed former deputy premier John Barilaro over his decision to pull out of a hearing examining how he obtained a coveted posting as New York trade commissioner.
Speaking on Friday, Taylor said the public attention on the conduct of Barilaro and others has taken a toll on Barilaro, who she described as a friend.
“He is not up to attending the inquiry today,” she said. “He has been very open about his struggles with mental health.”
Taylor also criticised the three weeks Barilaro had to wait before being able to give his side of the story at the inquiry.
“How would that make you feel and how would you manage that?”
“He has been been very honest and very open.”
– with AAP
National anti-corruption commission legislation could be introduced next month
Attorney general Mark Dreyfus says he hopes the bill to establish the federal integrity body could be brought forward in the next sitting fortnight, due to take place during the first two weeks of September.
The establishment of the body was a key election promise for the new Labor government, which pledged to introduce legislation by the end of the year.
Speaking to ABC Radio on Friday, Dreyfus said while such an agency would be difficult to establish, it was important to set up a federal body.
It’s going to be very broad-based, it’s going to have full powers to conduct both private and public hearings, it’s going to have full powers to report, it’s going to be able to look at the whole of the Australian public sector.
I’m hoping to be able to say we’ve learned from each of the eight state and territory commissions and we’re going to be able to pick the best features.
However, Dreyfus said there were limitations in Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission which would not be included in the federal model.
The attorney general said the federal model would have a broad focus and not just be examining federal MPs.
This anti-corruption commission is going to make reports, and from reports we’ll get public exposure of corruption. From that public exposure we’ll get action.
This national anti-corruption commission is about eliminating corruption in public life in all its forms. It’s to concentrate not just on MPs, but on ministers, on senior public servants, on every agency of the commonwealth.
However, Dreyfus rejected suggestions from independent MP Kylea Tink who suggested a federal integrity body should have the power to sack parliamentarians.
The power to sack parliamentarians rests with voters at the election.
Kylea Tink would probably now regret making this suggestion, which has been something of a diversion from what this national anti-corruption commission is going to be about.
– from AAP
Chris Minns: ‘we take all instances or reports of harassment or bullying seriously’
Minns is asked whether he is aware that a senior Labor frontbencher allegedly has a history of bullying.
Minns says he has “never had a complaint made by a survivor or a victim directly as the leader of the New South Wales Labor party”.
It’s very difficult to make a summary judgement about events or circumstances in which I haven’t been provided the details. But obviously we take all instances or reports of harassment or bullying seriously, and part of the Broderick review, which I think is important in context, is that there will be an independent assessor that can look at instances or allegations of bullying and make an independent assessment about what has happened.
Minns then points to the creation of an independent reporting mechanism and review process that is being set up following the Broderick review. He also says the state Labor party “has a similar independent complaint process for people who have been victims of bullying and harassment to make those allegations”.
NSW shadow minister Rose Jackson: ‘We need to ensure this report doesn’t sit in a bottom drawer gathering dust’
Shadow minister for water, housing and homelessness, Rose Jackson, is speaking now. Jackson was a member of the parliamentary advisory group that looked over the Broderick report and was involved in its drafting.
It’s distressing and confronting to read stories of people who have experienced unacceptable behaviour in New South Wales parliament and New South Wales
politics in general. I want to thank those people who spoke up. It does take courage to talk about instances that are unpleasant, uncomfortable, distressing, and in some instances criminal.
What we need to do is to acknowledge and respect the effort that they’ve made and ensure that this report doesn’t sit in a bottom drawer gathering dust.
NSW Labor leader on Broderick review: ‘It really paints a dark picture’
New South Wales opposition leader Chris Minns has held a press conference to discuss the release of the Broderick report.
It really paints a dark picture of what’s been happening in the New South Wales parliament over an extended period of time.
I want to make this point – I don’t think this is about partisanship. It’s my view that neither side, or any side in politics, comes to this issue with clean hands. We all need to do better, reach across the aisle, and make sure that we’re making every possible effort to make the New South Wales parliament a safe workplace and have the opportunity of having more people involved in the political process.
We need to create an environment where the best and brightest consider and enter a career of public service, and I’m concerned that if this culture persists, as it has done clearly for a long period of time, that won’t happen.
Four children allegedly taken from The Leap in Queensland found safe and well
Queensland Police have found four children allegedly taken from The Leap, north of Mackay on Thursday morning.
The children were taken at 11.30am but were found safe and well on Friday morning after authorities appealed to the public for help.
Police are still asking for help from the public to track down the 28-year-old man they believe may be responsible.
Anyone who might have information should call 131 564 to provide information.
Tasmania records one new Covid death
One person with Covid-19 has died in Tasmania overnight, with the state recording 509 new cases on Friday morning, 76 people in hospital, and four in ICU.
Perrottet is asked if he has turned a blind eye to harassment
Perrottet is asked how much responsibility should he take for allow a culture that permits bullying, sexual harassment and assault to develop.
Perrottet:
Well, we’ve acted very quickly from a ministerial perspective to make sure that training is in place, that proper processes are in place, following the Goward recommendations. Now, in relation to the information that’s come through here, yes, I have been in parliament for a long time. I’ve always, in my view, in the ministerial offices and positions that I’ve had as finance minister, as treasurer, as premier, in my electorate office, I believe I have always fostered a very healthy work environment.
Perrottet asked whether Eleni Petinos still belongs in parliament
There’s an exchange now between reporters and the premier about the decision to fire Eleni Petinos from the ministry. Perrottet has refused to answer follow-up questions about why, if her behaviour was bad enough to warrant her being removed from cabinet, that she should not also leave parliament.
Reporters are taking issue with that based on what the premier has just said about how he would be “weeding out” those responsible for bully, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Reporter: Premier, can you see why I’m having trouble here? You just talked about you’re gonna weed out bullying and bad behaviour, then you’re using the same press conference to defend one of your MPs, who you said had a workplace that was unsafe. So, why are you using this opportunity to do that? You said you want to weed out bullying.
Perrottet: I have just done that. I have removed … I had a view from a ministerial office perspective …
Reporter: But you think that she … [still belongs] ..in parliament?
Perrottet: No. What I’m saying is I expect the high standards of MPs, in areas where I have responsibility, I will make those decisions. I made that decision in relation to Ms Petinos and the cabinet. That is the decision I made. I have taken a very strong stance in relation to this position, as the employer of the cabinet, the person who makes the decisions, I expect high standards from ministerial colleagues.
Perrottet goes on to say that steps have been taken to offer training to ministers about acceptable standards of behaviour and that his government will now focus on implementing the recommendations of the Broderick report.
Perrottet says he will consider making parliament an alcohol-free zone
He is also asked, as he said people who engaged in bullying against another colleague should leave, whether another member of parliament should leave.
The question refers to Eleni Petinos, who was accused of bullying in a resignation letter that has since been submitted to Icac.
Perrottet says he “would not be going into that” and described critics as playing “games”.
Perrottet: ‘If you are involved in this behaviour you should leave immediately’
Asked whether he will try to “weed out” people within parliament and even within his own party who are responsible, Perrottet says: “absolutely”.
He is then asked “how”. Perrottet:
If you are involved in this behaviour you should leave immediately. There are processes in place.
What is important and what comes through the recommendations is the implementation of processes so that people can come forward in an anonymous way and raise these issues.
That is fundamentally the problem here – that there has been no mechanism set up for a proper complaints process. This report, this report is here today because people felt confident that they could come forward in the privacy and raise those issues in a confidential way. But for that we would not know, and you need people to have that environment created for them where they feel comfortable coming forward. That has clearly not occurred in the past.
Perrottet says he is not aware of any pending criminal charges against anyone
He says he “had no advice in relation to that”.
Perrottet also says he has not witnessed any harmful behaviour during his time in parliament.
I have never witnessed or seen any of this behaviour in the entire time that I have been in the New South Wales parliament. I have not seen it, but that does not mean – it is pretty clear that that is occurring – and change needs to happen.
Perrottet takes questions
Questions now with the first asking Perrottet about what he will do if one of his own party is found to be responsible for this behaviour.
Perrottet says the “first thing” he will be making very clear what the standard of behaviour is both to his party room and to his staffers.
I will make it very clear what the standards of behaviour [are], particularly wanting stuff, for example, to feel like they can make a contribution and come forward and make a contribution to public life. That is one of these that is one of the beautiful aspects of politics is that people put their hands up to make a difference to the people of our state and people don’t feel comfortable doing that.
NSW minister for women: ‘if this is you that is mentioned please leave the parliament’
Bronnie Taylor says “my door is always open and always has been” to anyone who is experiencing abuse.
I believe that you set the example yourself for what you stand for and how you behave, and everybody needs to start doing that.
Taylor then makes a strong statement:
For those particular people that may be reading that report today, you know who you are, and my very strong advice to you is that you do not belong in the parliament of New South Wales. I ask you to think very long and hard about this, and I ask you to make sure that if this is you that is mentioned, get the help that you need and please leave the New South Wales parliament.
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