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‘It’s a boys’ club’: Report lifts the lid on sexism, bullying and abuse in the NSW parliament

Confidential interviews with staff at the NSW parliament have lifted the lid on what a report has described as a boozy, predatory boys’ club.

Almost 450 people working at the parliament were interviewed as part of the review by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

The report reveals how the offices of certain MPs and ministers are known to be “hotspots”, ruled by aggressive and abusive elected members who bully, micro-manage and gaslight staff, with devastating consequences.

Here are some of the findings detailed in the report:

‘It’s a bit of a boys’ club’

Some of the comments described a sexist culture pervading the parliament, where MPs are heard making lewd comments about female colleagues and staff.

“It’s a bit of a boys’ club. There’s sexting in the parliament,” one staff member said.

“Conversations in front of junior members of staff about which staff member the MPs would like to have sex with.

“Like locker room talk. I was shocked.”

Another woman surveyed said there was a power imbalance and it was commonplace for MPs to use their position to manipulate and abuse young staff.

“It’s very normalized, the MP and chief of staff sleeping with junior staff,” she said.

“I did not observe coercion but there was absolutely taking advantage.

“It felt like the 1970s, old rich white men employing these beautiful young women in their 20s.”

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