COMMITTEES

Ms CLAYDON (Newcastle—Deputy Speaker) (10:02): On behalf of the Standing Committee on Procedure, I present the committee's report entitled Inquiry into disrespectful behaviour towards other members in the chamber, together with minutes of the proceedings. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). Ms CLAYDON: As chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure, I'm pleased to present the committee's report into disrespectful behaviour chamber.

This inquiry sits within a broader body of work undertaken by the parliament in recent years to strengthen the culture of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces and to ensure that our workplaces reflect the values Australians rightly expect of us: integrity, dignity, safety and mutual respect. The committee's work builds on reforms arising from the Set the Standard review and the subsequent adoption of the Behaviour Standards for Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and the Behaviour Code for Australian Parliamentarians.

The Australian parliament has made significant progress. However, as this inquiry demonstrates, cultural change is not a project with a defined beginning and end. It's an ongoing responsibility that requires continual reinforcement, reflection and action from all of us.

The House of Representatives chamber occupies a unique place in our democracy. It is where governments are held to account, public policy is contested and representatives advocate passionately on behalf of their communities. The committee heard consistently that robust debate and freedom of speech are fundamental to the operation of our parliamentary democracy.

At the same time, the committee also heard clear evidence that many members continue to experience behaviour they regard as disrespectful, intimidating or unnecessarily aggressive. The committee was reminded that behaviour in this chamber does not stay within these walls. It shapes public perceptions of our parliament and contributes to the culture of our workplaces more broadly.

Australians are entitled to expect respectful conduct from their elected representatives. A central question raised during the report concerned the application of the Behaviour Code for Australian Parliamentarians within the chamber. The committee examined whether changes to the standing orders were required and considered evidence from members, parliamentary officials, the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, and representatives of other Australian and international parliaments.

The committee reached a clear conclusion: the code already applies to conduct in the chamber. The chamber forms part of a Commonwealth parliamentary workplace, and the code was adopted by the House as a continuing resolution and incorporated into the standing and sessional orders. The question before the committee was therefore not whether the code applies, but how it operates alongside parliamentary privilege, standing orders and established parliamentary practice.

Importantly, the committee does not believe that vigorous debate and respectful conduct are competing principles. Rather, they are complementary. Members can advance strongly held views, disagree passionately and robustly contest ideas while still treating one another with dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect.

The committee heard differing views about whether standing orders should be amended to address disrespectful behaviour. After careful consideration, the committee concluded that the existing standing orders already provide a robust framework for maintaining order and addressing inappropriate conduct. The committee was concerned that overly prescriptive amendments could have unintended consequences and potentially limit the discretion of the chair.

Instead, the committee focused on measures to improve understanding, consistency and confidence in the application of existing parliamentary arrangements. Accordingly, the report contains six recommendations. Together they are designed to strengthen understanding of expected standards of conduct and support cultural change.

The committee recommendations are to: (1) Expand Safe and Respectful Workplaces training to explicitly address behaviour and communication in the chamber. (2) Introduce refresher training for members in each new parliament. (3) Provide additional support and education for newly elected members.

(4) Develop clear guidance on how the behaviour code operates and is applied in the chamber. (5) Deliver targeted training for members of the Speaker's panel, including strategies to identify and respond to disrespectful behaviour and de-escalate tensions during proceedings. (6) Publish declarations of refresher training completion to support transparency and accountability.

These recommendations are intended to complement, not replace, established parliamentary practice. They seek to promote a shared understanding both of members' rights and their responsibilities. I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to the inquiry, including members from across the House, parliamentary officials, the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service and representatives of Australian and international parliaments who generously shared their experiences and expertise.

I also thank my deputy chair, the member for Forrest, my fellow committee members and the committee secretariat for their professionalism, diligence and collaborative approach throughout this inquiry. Respectful conduct and robust debate are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, they are essential to the effective functioning of our democracy.

The committee's recommendations are intended to support a parliament in which vigorous disagreement can occur without diminishing the dignity of those who serve within it. In doing so, they seek to strengthen public confidence in the institution we are all privileged to serve. On behalf of the committee, I commend the report to the House.