A Cabinet reshuffle does nothing to address workplace culture, with the responsibility for meaningful change starting at the top.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's the opinion of Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain, Bega Valley's former mayor who was elected to the federal Labor Party eight months ago.
Ms McBain spoke to ACM this week as federal parliament continues to be embroiled in allegations of sexual assaults, "sickening" workplace conduct and mistreatment of women.
While the matters are currently focused on the Liberal-Nationals Coalition, Ms McBain said there needed to be systemic changes if members on both sides of parliament were to regain the public's trust.
READ ALSO:
"There needs to be a set of standards - there's currently no code of conduct for federal MPs," she said.
"There's no ICAC [Independent Commission Against Corruption], no independent review process.
"This is a building unto its own. We have to be open to having our behaviour scrutinised.
"If there's no way to address these things then we're failing."
Ms McBain said it was voters who made the decisions when appointing their representatives, but that an MP was there to represent local communities and electorates "was sometimes forgotten".
"Each party has its own policies and procedures for dealing with these types of issues," she said.
"When I was mayor, and as a councillor, in local government anyone from a fellow councillor, staff member, or member of the public, can lodge a code of conduct complaint against you and it can be investigated in a number of ways depending on the issue.
"That doesn't apply in federal government, there's no code of conduct.
"There needs to be a way to ensure integrity in our system, to win back trust."
READ ALSO:
Ms McBain said the "dark culture" overshadowing the work of parliament in the past month was distressing, but also a "necessary and powerful conversation" needed to drive change.
"A lot of people are there for the right reasons, but unfortunately that's being overshadowed by the last four or five weeks.
"We could've been having these discussions already. Kate Jenkins the sex discrimination commissioner tabled her report on harassment to the Prime Minister more than a year ago with 55 recommendations - there's been no action taken.
"It needs to be taken seriously. We have to be serious about making changes."
Ms McBain also raised the same issues in parliament last week, saying "the women and men of Eden-Monaro are shaking their heads and calling for action".
"It's critical that those charged with leading this change move forward with empathy and a willingness to learn and listen."