SYDNEY — Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia on Tuesday apologized to a former political staffer who said she was raped in a ministerial office, after a review found half of parliamentary staff had experienced harassment, bullying or sexual assault.
The apology marked a rocky start to an election year for Morrison and came as anti-vaccination protesters gathered outside Parliament and his conservative party argued over a religious freedom bill.
An election must be held by May, leaving lawmakers limited time in session before the federal budget is delivered in March, which is likely to trigger the start of the official campaign.
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As Parliament sat for the first time in 2022 on Tuesday, a statement was read by the speaker apologizing for “an unacceptable history of workplace bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault in parliamentary workplaces.”
Brittany Higgins, who last year went public with details of her alleged rape that set off the review, watched from the public gallery as all party leaders pledged change.
“We are sorry, I am sorry to Miss Higgins for the terrible things that took place here,” said Morrison, adding that a place that should have been safe “turned out to be a nightmare.”
Morrison’s personal integrity has been under attack with damaging leaks, including by Higgins, of historical text messages from state officials and leaders of Morrison’s Liberal-National Coalition, including some labeling him a “liar.”
Polls show Morrison has also been marked down by voters over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, the government announced Australia would open its borders to international travel on Feb. 21 for the first time in almost two years, in a boost for business and tourism.
The defense force was also sent in to assist elder care homes struggling with staff shortages amid Covid.
Contentious changes to religious discrimination laws that seek to balance religious freedom with gay and lesbian protections are among the few bills to be debated before the election.
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At issue is whether the government has gone far enough in protecting students at faith-based schools from discrimination based on gender identity, with some moderate members of Morrison’s Liberal Party threatening to vote against the bill.
Former Olympian swimmer Ian Thorpe was among those lobbying against the bill at Parliament on Tuesday because he said it didn’t protect transgender students who were the most marginalized group in the country. “It becomes state-sanctioned discrimination,” he said.
Morrison told reporters many people had migrated to Australia to escape faith-based discrimination, and he had pledged before the last election to pass laws to ensure their freedom.
“For so many Australians their faith and their religion is their culture,” he said.
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