Content Warning: This article discusses sexual misconduct and assault. If you or someone you know is affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
A federal Liberal staffer has been sacked after footage emerged of him masturbating on the desk of a female MP in Parliament House.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the man also took another video of himself performing a sex act on another man in the office.
As first reported by Ten News, a group of Coalition government staffers exchanged both pictures and videos among themselves of sex acts performed in Parliament House.
On top of that, Ten News also reported that sex workers had been hired to visit MPs at Parliament House.
Government sources have since confirmed the Liberal staffer shown masturbating in a video was sacked on Monday after the report went to air on Ten News. The identity of the man in question has yet to be confirmed by his employer.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, whose department is the technical employer of parliamentary staffers, said the staffers involved in the alleged incidents showed “enormous disrespect” and “complete contempt.”
“It demonstrates an enormous disrespect for a member or senator in relation to those staff, those offices. It equally shows a complete contempt, frankly, for the Australian taxpayers who paid the wages of such staff,” he said in a Senate committee hearing.
“In my opinion, any individuals who engaged in such activity ought to prepare to pack their bags and leave the building for good. They should also think intently about apologising not just to their employing member or senator but to the Parliament and to the Australian public.”
Meanwhile, Liberal MP Dave Sharma said he had discussed the matter with his staff and believed none were involved in the incidents.
“The people responsible should self-identify and resign immediately,” he said.
“To denigrate and disrespect Parliament in this way, and female MPs, is beyond reproach and condemnation.”
This incident is just the latest in a series of allegations about sexual assault and misconduct to have rocked Parliament.
Last month, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins went public about her alleged rape by a colleague in Parliament House.
As if that wasn’t enough, Attorney-General Christian Porte has also denied recent claims he raped a 16-year-old girl at the age of 17 in 1988.
