Five NSW Parliament Employees Claim They Were Raped Or Victims Of Attempted Rape At Work

A new report into workplace bullying and sexual harassment in the NSW Parliament has revealed multiple allegations of rape and attempted rape within parliamentary workplaces.

CONTENT WARNING: This story discusses sexual assault, bullying and rape.

The review – conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick – was released on Friday, detailing the extent of harassment and bullying at hand within state parliament.

According to an anonymous survey conducted for the report, five people came forward claiming to have been raped, or been victims of attempted rape. Three of the alleged victims were men and two were women.

The data also shows that all victims were under the age of 55, with most aged between 25 and 34 years old.

Alleged victims were offered the opportunity to come forward in a one-on-one interview to share more detail of the incident, but only women came forward – indicating that men and non-binary people may feel less safe discussing this.

“This may indicate that there are additional barriers for men, especially gay and bisexual men, and for trans and gender diverse people, to share their experiences,” said Broderick in the report.

Broderick also noted that none of the alleged victims who reported their incidents were provided with “any meaningful support or validation of their experiences.”

But while the findings may be shocking to readers, the report concluded that it was no secret within parliament – with one fifth of MPs telling the survey they had heard about or witnessed a sexual assault in the workplace. 

Specifically, more than 30 percent of sexual incidents reportedly took place in Parliament House, while other incidents took place at knock off drinks and other events. 

According to survey findings, 56 percent reported the assaults had been perpetrated by staffers working for MPs, with ministerial staff accounting for 15 percent.

The review, which was commissioned last year off the back of several staff complaints, also details allegations of bullying and harassment.

“Employees are bullied, traumatised and no legitimate action can be taken,” one staffer told the review. 

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has since vowed to rid the state Parliament of those who behave inappropriately, calling the findings “unacceptable.”

“I have read the report. It is sobering, confronting and unacceptable,” Perrottet told reporters on Friday.

“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?”