Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged to use psychometric testing for staff employed in parliamentary offices

Scott Morrison has been urged to consider psychometric testing for staff employed in parliamentary offices. The Prime Minister was last week written to by one of his own MPs who suggested using the employment tool to help ensure the right staff are hired who can withstand the high pressure environment of Parliament House. It would also be used to identify potential predators before they commence working in the building. Insiders told The West Australian the measure will be considered as part of a comprehensive review into the workplace culture in Parliament House. The West Australian can also reveal Celia Hammond’s review announced by the PM last week will be rolled into one thoroughly independent probe in order to prevent confusion for people giving evidence. Anger is growing among some Coalition MPs about the absence of a dedicated support service for people to report and discuss sexual assault and harassment. Eight days after Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds was made public, they want an official independent avenue to be able to support and report abuse. Yesterday a fourth woman emerged to allege the ex-Liberal staffer who is alleged to have raped Ms Higgins also assaulted her. She said the alleged perpetrator ran his hand up her leg and stroked her thigh. The woman described the man as being “really sleazy”. Yesterday former political staff members told The West Australian they would be supportive of psychometric testing. “Every role I have had in the private sector since working in Parliament has done psychometric testing,” one staffer said on condition of anonymity. Another said: “It could be a useful tool to stop these men working in the building and prevent situations like this.” Tomorrow, Ms Higgins will meet with the Australian Federal Police to make a formal report about her alleged assault. Her former employer Ms Reynolds — who Ms Higgins says did not provide the adequate support, and held an employment meeting with her in the same office where the alleged abuse occurred — will deliver a scheduled address to the National Press Club in Canberra on the same day. Ms Higgins last week alleged she was raped in Senator Reynolds’ office in 2019 by a more senior staff member. She told The Project she and her alleged perpetrator went back to Parliament after a night drinking because he told her he needed to pick something up. She says she fell asleep on the couch and woke to her assault. Ms Higgins said she started crying and told her alleged attacker to stop. She was found by Parliament House security the next morning in state of undress. Former Australian of The Year Patrick McGorry said Parliament House was a high pressure environment and usually staff had to work in very insecure employment with “tremendous pressure”. He said there needed to be more mental support for everyone who worked in the building. Professor McGorry said he was not certain psychometric would work to prevent sexual deviants from working in Parliament House but that “maybe some people might find it helpful”.