Extract from ABC News
A day after receiving a formal apology from the Prime Minister, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins will address the National Press Club alongside her friend and former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.
Key points:
Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame will front the National Press Club today
Their sold-out event comes one day after parliament formally apologised to survivors of sexual assault
The government today plans to introduce legislation in response to an independent review into parliamentary workplace culture
The highly anticipated event comes as the federal government prepares to introduce legislation today aimed at implementing some of the recommendations from Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins's landmark inquiry into parliamentary workplaces.
The sweeping investigation found one in three parliamentary staff had experienced sexual harassment and made 28 recommendations.
It was sparked after Brittany Higgins went public with allegations she was raped in a ministerial office, rocking parliament to its core.
Yesterday, Australia's political leaders acted on the first recommendation of the Jenkins review, formally apologising to all those who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or bullying while working in federal parliament.
The review also found workplaces were not safe environments for many within them, largely driven by power imbalances and a lack of accountability.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, who is part of a multi-party task force overseeing the response the inquiry, said the government would today introduce legislation to strengthen the rights of workers in parliamentary workplaces.
"It will put in place additional protections for employees recommended by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, so they have confidence the same sorts of protections that apply in other workplaces also apply to employees of members of parliament," he said.
Momentum for change, but it is moving at a glacial pace, Greens say
The legislation is one of the first changes implemented in response to the review's recommendations.
Another is introducing a parliamentary code of conduct.
At the Commonwealth level, there is no general standard of behaviour applying to parliamentarians as employers, or their staff.
Greens senator Larissa Waters, also on the task force, said that change was long overdue.
"Most workplaces have a code of conduct, but parliament does not have one and it's very clear one has been needed for a long time," she said.
Senator Waters said she believed there was a growing push for reform but questioned how quickly it could happen.
"I really think there's broad momentum for change in the community. Anyone that went to the March for Justice rallies last year felt that hope and that strength and resilience and that push for change," she said.
"But you know, parliament's a very old-fashioned institution and, you know, change is just moving at such a glacial pace.
"The optimist in me wants to believe that we can make this change. The cynic in me needs a bit more proof than what we've got so far."
Senator Birmingham said parliament was already a much safer place to work than it was 12 months ago.
"We have put in place additional training for all members of parliament and their staff," he said.
"We have put in place a new counselling service — trauma-informed — to support everyone and we have put in place a new independent complaints process with the authority and the teeth to be able to hold members of parliament to account.
"There's more to do, we're going to build on those reforms, but it's a very sound basis of action to move on from here."
Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins to front sold-out press club event
From the national stage to the press club podium, Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame will front the media at today's event, which sold out within minutes.
Both have unlocked a movement that saw thousands of women all over the country gather outside Parliament House against gender-based violence.
Ms Tame has already made her opinions on Prime Minister Scott Morrison very clear, in an ice-cold exchange at the Australian of the Year Awards last month.
Yesterday, she called his apology to parliament a "performative, last-minute, band-aid electioneering stunt".
However, Senator Birmingham said the government was genuine in its response.
"It wasn't just an acknowledgement it was a clear and sincere apology and a call to action," he said.
Senator Birmingham said he intended to be at today's press club address, rejecting reports some of his colleagues were instructed not to go.
"The parliament is sitting at the time, so the whips have to make sure a quorum is present," he said.
"Nobody to my knowledge has been told not to go to that event, of course, they have to make sure, and we all have to make sure those of us who need to be here to fulfil our jobs at the parliament are here when required."
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