Reboot of Jenkins review into toxic parliamentary culture already begun, Katy Gallagher says

In her first interview as the new federal minister for women, Katy Gallaghersaid the Jenkins reboot had begun this week. She said Kerri Hartland, the independent chair of the Jenkins review implementation taskforce, had contacted MPs across the parliament to revive the process that went into hiatus because of the May election.

Gallagher signalled the new cross-party implementation group led by Hartland could include a second crossbencher as well as the independent Zali Steggall, who was on the taskforce before the May election.

In addition to rebooting the taskforce, Gallagher said a joint select committee would be re-established to consider a new code of conduct. The Jenkins review called for a new code of conduct for parliamentarians and their staff as part of normalising employment conventions.

Gallagher said she wanted to make sure new administrative and support services worked optimally for parliamentary staff.

As part of structural reforms, Jenkins recommended the establishment of a new office of parliamentarian staffing and culture to provide centralised human resources support, including policy development, training, advice, support and education.