Prime Minister Scott Morrison has demanded cultural change around the treatment of women in politics after reports of a male government staffer performing a sex act inside Parliament House.
Mr Morrison on Tuesday lashed out at “shameful” reports of a group of Coalition staffers swapping graphic videos filmed inside Parliament, saying he was “shocked” and “disgusted”.
A coalition staffer who filmed himself performing a lewd act on the desk of an MP he worked for has been sacked, and the government is investigating others involved.
Mr Morrison said the reports only compounded concerns over cultural problems inside Parliament House and across Australia that must be addressed.
“I am shocked and I am disgusted. It is shameful. It is just absolutely shameful,” he told reporters.
“We must get this house in order - we must recognise this problem, acknowledgement, we must fix it.”
The reports come after former political staffer Brittany Higgins came forward publicly detailing her allegations of being raped inside Parliament House.
Mr Morrison became emotional as he defended citing his wife Jenny and speaking "as a father" when responding to these concerns.
"I want women to have at least the same opportunities and the same voice and the same safety as men in this country," he said.
"They motivate me every day on this issue. And to them, I say to you girls, I will not let you down."
Mr Morrison said he recognised right across Parliament House - and the country - women have demonstrated their frustration against this kind of behaviour.
"Women who have put up with this rubbish and this crap for their entire lives," he said.
“This was a shout about what is happening across Australia, not just the specific events. There is something much bigger here,” he said.
Mr Morrison also recognised criticism raised over his handling of recent concerns around the treatment of women.
Mr Morrison faced criticism for his rhetoric following Ms Higgins going public with her allegations for saying his response had been influenced
He also drew criticism for his decision not to attend the recent women's march in Canberra and referencing it was a triumph that the demonstration was not
“I acknowledge that many Australians, especially women, believe that I have not heard them, and that greatly distresses me,” he said.
Labor's government accountability spokesperson Kristina Keneally said Mr Morrison's "mea culpa" had come five weeks too late.
"It's not just words we need to hear from the PM it's also action," she told reporters.
"While I acknowledge his mea culpa what i say on behalf of Australian women is we want to see what you're now going to do."
Greens Senator Larissa Waters also said Mr Morrison needed to back up his words with action, such as more funding for frontline domestic violence services.
"The PM claims he’s now listening to women, but actions speak louder than words," she said.
Mr Morrison said action to address culture problems in Parliament House would come, following recommendations from an independent examination by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
“Today is not a day for me to list out a list of further actions," he said.
“Today, Australian women, but Australians more broadly … need to know that this place has heard them and that I have heard them.”
He said the continued harassment and discrimination faced by women both inside and outside of politics is unacceptable.
"I have heard about being marginalised, women being intimidated, women being belittled, women being diminished, and women being objectified. That is not okay," he said.
"Whether this is unconscious deafness and blindness, or whether it is wilful malevolence that is behind all of this, it must be acknowledged, it must be called out, and it must stop."
Mr Morrison added that consideration was underway for a summit to be held as part of the next action plan to reduce violence against women and children.
He also expressed openness to considering quotas being implemented to improve the representation of women in politics.
This measure has already been adopted by the Labor party.
