Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins says the nation needs “victim-centric” approaches to sexual assault claims. 

The commissioner has been ordered to review workplace culture in parliament in response to multiple allegations of sexual assault. 

She appears to be starting with an optimistic outlook, saying change has already begun. 

“In my time working in this area and particularly looking in workplaces over the 30 years, I’ve never seen any moment like this,” Ms Jenkins told the ABC over the weekend.

“I think our community is changing, so we’re at a turning point – that is my sense.”

Her review will cover legislative, cultural, structural and other barriers to reporting incidents in parliamentary workplaces. It will also look at current response and reporting mechanisms in parliamentary workplaces.

A key part of the probe could be the consideration of the operation of the Members of Parliament Staff Act. This is the legislation under which political staffers are employed. Ms Jenkins will “assess the extent to which current legislation, policies, processes and practices promote or impede safe and respectful workplaces”.

She expects the report from the inquiry will lead to a new, “more independent” complaints mechanism for parliamentary staff.

The review will take confidential submissions from interested parties, and will examine complaints of harassment raised during the process “to find a justice outcome,” Ms Jenkins said. 

The terms of reference for the review are accessible in PDF form, here.