Source : Perth Now news
Behavioural standards of MPs at Parliament House will be put under the microscope as part of an inquiry into federal workplaces.
A parliamentary committee will examine whether codes of conduct and behavioural standards for MPs and senators, their staffers and federal public servants are up to scratch.
The inquiry will be the first into the code of conduct since updated standards were adopted in 2024.
The behavioural standards include provisions against bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment.
The code of conduct and the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission were set up following a report into workplace culture at Parliament House.
Inquiry chair Anne Stanley said the probe would examine how effective the standards had been.
“This is an opportunity for the committee to hear directly from people working in commonwealth parliamentary workplaces about how the codes are functioning,” the Labor MP said.
However, the inquiry won’t be able to investigate specific complaints made about conduct at Parliament House.
It comes after House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick said standards in parliament had reached a “new low” during the last sitting week before MPs depart Canberra for a five-week winter break.
Mr Dick had suspended Liberal MP Garth Hamilton from the chamber for 24 hours for swearing and storming out of the lower house during Question Time.
Responding to a Labor attack on comments Mr Taylor had made about bushfire management, Mr Hamilton – a former volunteer firefighter – slammed his desk drawer shut and shouted “f***ing bullshit”.
“The member for Groom has shown severe disrespect for this house through his words and his actions,” Mr Dick said upon his suspension.
