Originally published in Women's Agenda.

Attending events over the last week or so in the Federal Parliament ahead of International Women’s Day, my first as a Member of Parliament, it really struck me how far this place has come since I was a staffer here, almost 10 years ago.

Last week marked the significant milestone as the first anniversary of the Setting the Standard report and the implementation of a Code of Conduct and does so with a government with a majority of women, a historic achievement I am humbled and honoured to be a part of.

It was only at the end of 2020 that revelations about a culture of bullying, harassment and gender-based violence in Parliamentary workplaces were made public and as the culmination of a cascade of stories including Brittany Higgins’ disclosures, people took to the streets across Australia demanding better from elected representatives. Demanding that there be a better standard. I was one of those thousands of people.

At the time, I shared my own experience of being a staff member in the Parliament of Australia in a comment piece. I recognised the appalling culture that was being splashed on the front pages from the period I was working in Parliamentary workplaces.

For me, the opportunity for reform as stories emerged about the culture in Parliament, was not simply to make change in that workplace, but to make changes for workplaces around the country.

Prior to the media coverage of the disturbing allegations of incidents in Parliament, the Human Rights Commission had released their Respect at Work report, which followed an inquiry where hundreds of people shared their stories of harassment, bullying and discrimination in workplaces right across Australia. These workplaces were diverse including farms, factories, offices and schools. The recommendations from the Respect at Work inquiry were substantial, and while the report was released in 2020, it took until after the election last year for all key recommendations to be implemented, most notably the recommendation requiring employers to have a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.

I was glad that the Set the Standard inquiry was launched, it was necessary. It’s a well-worn cliché, but sunlight is the best disinfectant.

I participated in the Set the Standard inquiry as a witness and appreciated the chance to give evidence.

The final report made difficult reading, but there was a peculiar sense of relief and of comfort and connection, that there were so many others who had experienced something similar to my own experience. That none of us were alone, although so many of us felt that we were alone.

I did not know at the time of sharing my experiences with the public and with the inquiry that I would, in the next 18 months, find myself back in the Parliament of Australia as the Member for Chisholm.

The place I work in bears almost no resemblance to the place I remembered from almost a decade ago. There are more women (largely thanks to the voting public who used the ballot box to make their views about the treatment of women known), there are no more exceptionally late nights in the House of Representatives, and, importantly, there is an awareness of the work required from us all and commitment to ensuring the culture is inclusive and respectful.

I am very conscious of the fact that I return to this place in a different position to the one I held when I left. There is a power difference between being a Member of Parliament and a staff member and that has historically compounded some of the problems that have been raised. I know that this will have some influence on my own perception of the changes in the Parliament.

I am very conscious, too, of the responsibility I hold for my own staff, and of my participation in the broader culture of Parliament House. I know that I must not walk past poor behaviour. After all, as the saying goes, the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.

The only standard we should accept is for every person in the workplace to experience a safe and healthy environment, free from harassment, discrimination and bullying. That is one of the reasons we now have a code of conduct.

Of course, to maintain a positive standard and culture, as well as to always seek to improve it, will take vigilance. The structures and systems of dedicated support services and processes for review that have been brought into the Parliament are critical in ensuring we do not allow standards to slip.

From my own perspective, it is strange to be in a workplace that is both familiar and foreign, in terms of the culture. It is a lovely sort of strange sensation. I do feel supported by my colleagues. I hope this is the case for others who work here. There is always more we can do. And unfortunately, I know many women still don’t enjoy safety and respect in their workplaces. I am ready to stand up for them as part of an Albanese Labor Government, to ensure we truly do build a better future for all.