Daily Bulletin

  • Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

The revelation of the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and subsequent allegations of sexual misconduct have sparked multiple inquiries into the culture of parliament house.

It’s a subject on which Kate Ellis is an expert. Ellis was a Labor MP from 2004 to 2019, and held various ministries in the Labor government. She was then – and still is – the youngest person to become a federal minister.

Ellis retired to spend more time with her young family.

Her coming book, Sex, Lies and Question Time, published in April, discusses the history of women in parliament, their triumphs, but also the adversities faced by female parliamentarians and staff. It draws on contemporary accounts.

Ellis describes her time as a parliamentarian as “the best job in the world” but says “if you’re a woman in our federal parliament, you are treated differently than if you are a man.”

She chose to “overstep the line” as an employer, when she was a minister, to warn staff of the hazards of the life and culture around parliament.

“There are several occasions where I would sit my staff member down and actually play more of a maternal role…kind of talking about the culture, making sure that they were okay and making sure that they knew that they could come to me.

"Now, that’s not the traditional role of an employer. Normally what people do outside of their strict work hours is up to them. But just having seen enough of the Canberra culture, I felt that it was my responsibility to play that role. And it’s something that I did on a number of occasions.”

Listen on Apple Podcasts Politics with Michelle Grattan: Former MP Kate Ellis on the culture in parliament house

Stitcher Listen on TuneIn

Listen on RadioPublic Politics with Michelle Grattan: Former MP Kate Ellis on the culture in parliament house

A List of Ways to Die, Lee Rosevere, from Free Music Archive.

Authors: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Read more https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-former-mp-kate-ellis-on-the-culture-in-parliament-house-155874

Business News

A Guide to Finance Automation Software

When running a business, it is critical to streamline certain processes to maintain efficiency. Too much to spent manually on tasks can wind up being detrimental to the overall health of the organis...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Top Tips for Cost-effective Storefront Signage

The retail industry is highly competitive and if you are in the process of setting up a retail store, you have come to the right place, as we offer a few tips to help you create a stunning storefront...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Freight Forwarding Simplifies Global Trade Operations

Global trade operations are becoming increasingly complex due to international regulations, customs procedures, and the sheer scale of global logistics. For businesses looking to expand internation...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin