Parliamentary Workplace Support Service

I rise to fully support the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Amendment (Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission) Bill 2024. It is a vast improvement on the previous system, and I sincerely wish it had been brought in sooner, as my colleagues have raised. In the efforts to raise the standards in this place, it brings more rigour to the process and higher standards of review, which will ensure that the review is more just. This bill is essential for strengthening accountability and improving workplace standards in parliament, addressing the critical need for reform highlighted by the Jenkins review. I welcome the bill. It's important that the processes within it uphold fairness for all involved. We must maintain rigorous standards when handling allegations of misconduct. This will help prevent vexatious allegations and hopefully prevent the political weaponisation of that complaints process. This bill will also strengthen the procedural fairness in these complaint processes.

It is heartening to see the strengthening improvement of this bill, and I also support Senator Thorpe's amendments that we will debate later. I thank Minister Gallagher and her team, Georgia and Solange; they have been amazing. Thank you for working with me on this and bringing about this much-needed reform.