Calling out toxic behaviour in Parliament

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton is calling out bullying after another disgraceful display in parliament last week.

 At the end of a heated Upper House debate on a floodplain harvesting regulation which resulted in several personal attacks by One Nations Mark Latham, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Robert Borsak is clearly recorded in the chamber saying that Chris Rath, the Chair, should have ‘gotten up and clocked her’ referring to the Member for Murray who was observing the debate from the gallery.

 “I find it unacceptable that we have an elected member of parliament encouraging violence against women, especially regarding all of the recent reports of this type of toxic behaviour in parliament.

“It is also extremely disheartening to have these people roaming the halls of parliament, with such appalling attitudes against women,” Mrs Dalton said.

Mrs Dalton is committed to calling out bullying after reading The Broderick Report which identified the toxic culture which exists within NSW Parliament, particularly for women.

 The Broderick report identified one in three staff had experienced bullying or sexual harassment in the past five years.

 “I am a member of Perrottet’s parliamentary executive group, tasked with responding to the Broderick report, and it was extremely disappointing to sit in our first meeting and listen to Borsak and Latham scuttle the meeting and reject the report.

 “In light of their recent comments, I call for them both to be removed from the committee because I believe they are part of the problem,” she said.

Mrs Dalton said she is no stranger to being on the receiving end of toxic behaviour and it is important to call it out.

 “Women deserve to feel safe in their workspace and when we have members of parliament actively encouraging violence against women, I feel it is my duty to speak out.”