The Australian parliament, the whole arse-covering and ego-driven apparatus, should be paralysed by

[Celerity]

shame and remorse

The Jenkins review into parliament’s culture should make everyone, not just women, weep. But Scott Morrison is responsible for making change – this reckoning presented on his watch

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/30/the-australian-parliament-the-whole-arse-covering-and-ego-driven-apparatus-should-be-paralysed-by-shame-and-remorse

There are statistics, and there are vignettes in Kate Jenkins’ review that trigger deep revulsion. “The MP sitting beside me leaned over. Also thinking he wanted to tell me something, I leaned in. He grabbed me and stuck his tongue down my throat. The others all laughed. It was revolting and humiliating.”

Another person said there were aspiring male politicians “who thought nothing of, in one case, picking you up, kissing you on the lips, lifting you up, touching you, pats on the bottom, comments about appearance, you know, the usual. The point I make with that … was the culture allowed it, encouraged it.”

Another: “Frequently, like at least every week, the advice was go and cry in the toilet so that nobody can see you, because that’s what it’s like up here.”

Parliament is not the only Australian workplace where women, and some men, feel unsafe. There are plenty of toxic places, plenty of terrible stories. But there are distinctive characteristics of political life that supercharge some of the risks. The Jenkins review lists them. The role of power, gender inequality, a lack of accountability, a culture of entitlement and exclusion.

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'Dog noises', 'growling', 'boofhead': bad behaviour in parliament as Jenkins review launched