The Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards for the 47th Parliament was appointed by resolution of the House of Representatives on 26 July 2022 and resolution of the Senate on 27 July 2022. The Committee was established to inquire into and report on matters relating to the development of codes of conduct for Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, and in conducting the inquiry, the committee will:

(a) develop a code or codes of conduct for Commonwealth parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and parliamentary workplaces to ensure safe and respectful behaviour;

(b) consider:

(i) equivalent codes of conduct in other, particularly Westminster, parliamentary systems;

(ii) how any proposed code can prevent bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault;

(iii) reasonable expectations of respectful and professional behaviour;

(iv) the views of Commonwealth parliamentary workplace occupants, in particular staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, parliamentarians, and other workers in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces;

(v) the applicability and enforcement of any proposed code in relation to other legislation, including statutory obligations under relevant workplace and anti-discrimination legislation;

(vi) the findings and recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Review, Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces;

(vii) the terms under which an alleged breach of any proposed code may be referred for review;

(viii) appropriate appeal mechanisms for findings made under any proposed code; and

(ix) the context of any enforcement body established by the Parliament;

(c) recommend options for:

(i) the enforcement of any proposed code; and

(ii) mechanisms for reviewing the operation of any proposed code; and

(d) consider any other related matter

(2) the committee may report from time to time, but that it present its final report by no later than 1 November 2022;