According to an independent survey, one out of three women working in the parliament has experienced sexual harassment.
Sexually tinged throws. Inappropriate suggestions. Follow up in the corridors. All this from Australia’s most powerful politicians, senators and MPs from Parliament House in Canberra.
Independent Senator Lydia Thorpe told about widespread sexual harassment in parliament. Yesterday, Wednesday, he accused the Liberal senator David Vania sexual harassment, today he gave a speech on the subject in general.
– When I started, I was a new senator. As any woman who has walked the halls of this building knows, this is not a safe place, Thorpe said.
– I was followed, aggressive proposals were made to me, I was touched inappropriately. I was afraid to leave my office. I opened the door ajar and checked that the route was clear before leaving the room. It went so far that I didn’t dare to move around the building unless someone was with me.
Thorpe said her fear grew when the man had followed her to the staircase and approached her there. There were no witnesses to the incident, and there were no security cameras in the stairwell.
One in three experienced harassment
An independent investigation into the working culture of the Australian parliament was already done a couple of years ago. The initial impetus was a rape accusation, in the aftermath of which several women who worked in the parliament shared their experiences of sexual harassment.
Published in November 2021 according to the report one out of three women working in the parliament had experienced sexual harassment. 1,700 people were interviewed for the survey.
Senator Lidia Thorpe opened up about being sexually harassed yesterday, Wednesday, when she was provoked by Liberal Senator David Van’s comments. Van accused the Labor Party of shameful behavior in handling the rape case.
According to Thorpe, Van had sexually assaulted him in the previous election period.
– I find it very uncomfortable that a criminal is talking about violence here, Thorpe said of the Sydney Morning Herald by.
The Senate Deputy Speaker found the comment inappropriate and asked Thorpe to retract it.
– I can’t because this person harassed me, sexually assaulted me, and the prime minister had to move his office in parliament, Thorpe said.
– The fact that he is talking about this topic here today is shameful for the entire party.
David Van denies the allegations
Senator David Van has denied Thorpe’s allegations.
However, another senator also told about Van’s harassment on Thursday. A former Liberal senator by Amanda Stoker according to Van had squeezed her from behind twice. Van has not commented on the accusation.
The Liberal Party has now dismissed Van from its ranks.
Lidia Thorpe later retracted her accusations against Van.
– Yesterday I made remarks about another senator. I had to withdraw my accusation because Senate rules do not allow commenting on another person’s character, only their statements. So today I want to talk about my experiences in Parliament, Thorpe said at the beginning of his speech.
Thorpe says he is not going to file a criminal complaint for sexual harassment. Instead, he asked the parliament to take measures to increase women’s safety.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, AP