Australia’s Troubling Political Culture: Female Politician Shares Experience of Sexual Harassment in Parliament
Australia’s political landscape has long been criticized for its patriarchal and machoistic culture, and now a senior conservative politician in the Liberal Party of Australia is speaking out about her experience of sexual harassment in parliament. In an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC, the politician, who goes by the name Andrews, revealed how a male colleague used to breathe down her neck while she spoke in parliament. When she raised her concern with others, she was dismissed with the phrase, can’t you take a joke?
These revelations shed light on a deep-rooted problem within Australia’s political culture, one that former prime minister Julia Gillard also highlighted in 2012 when she called out misogyny and sexism in the Australian parliament. Unfortunately, it appears little has changed since then.
Disturbing findings from a government-backed inquiry in 2021 exposed rampant heavy drinking, bullying, and sexual harassment within Australia’s parliament. Shockingly, it was reported that one in three people currently working in the parliament had experienced some form of sexual harassment while on the job.
In her interview, Andrews shared her story in solidarity with all those who have spoken out against Australia’s problematic political culture. She described how her male colleague would breathe on her neck during question time, leaving her feeling uncomfortable and violated. Even when she asked questions, she was met with inappropriate remarks such as, ‘That was a great question, thrusting and probing’… that sort of stuff.
Another concerning aspect of Australia’s political culture is the focus on after-work socializing and fraternizing, which often takes place in an inappropriate manner. When Andrews initially began her parliamentary career in Sydney, she, along with many other women, was not invited to these social events. These gatherings, attended by the most powerful men, have become an integral part of Australia’s political landscape.
The issue of gender representation is also a cause for alarm. Although Australia ranked 15th in the world for the ratio of women to men in its parliament back in 1999, it has since plummeted to the 57th place according to rankings compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2022. This decline, paired with the stories of harassment coming to light, further emphasize the pervasive problem of misogyny not only in Australia’s government but in government cultures worldwide.
The revelations shared by Andrews serve as a wake-up call and demand immediate action to address the toxic and harmful political climate within Australia’s parliament. It is crucial for accountability measures to be put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals working in this environment, regardless of gender. Only then can Australia truly move towards a more inclusive and respectful political culture where everyone’s voices are heard and valued.
