The Sex Discrimination Commissioner has produced an interim report on workplace culture at Parliament House. 

The report is based on interviews with 345 people, 72 per cent of which were women. Over two thirds (256) of the interviews were with staffers of current or former federal parliamentarians, with just 16 former and current parliamentarians making contributions.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins says she has interviews lined up with 12 more current and former politicians before the inquiry ends in November.

The probe will not investigate any individual allegations of bullying, sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Still, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham claims the report shows “strong participation and engagement by current and former staff and parliamentarians”.

“I continue to encourage all those who choose to do so, to share their experiences, as this will be vital to informing the review and helping to ensure a safe and respectful workplace,” he said in a statement.

Ms Jenkins has urged the government to look at key recommendations from her existing Respect at Work report, which recommended the Sex Discrimination Act be amended to put a “positive duty” on employers to eliminate sexual harassment. 

“Including a positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act is central to ensuring the new sexual harassment system is effective,” Ms Jenkins said this week. 

“It is shocking to realise that the only law that currently explicitly prohibits sexual harassment, the Sex Discrimination Act, contains no obligation for employers to prevent sexual harassment.

“Introducing a positive duty will align the Sex Discrimination Act with safety laws and shift employer action to more effective approaches to eliminate sexual harassment.

“This would not impose an undue regulatory burden and has a greater chance of reducing the cost of sexual harassment to business.”

The Morrison Government has “noted” the recommendation, but believes that it would create confusion with existing workplace health and safety laws.

The interim report comes from one of several inquiries into sexual assault and workplace issues in Parliament. 

Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Philip Gaetjens has been running an inquiry into who in the PMO knew what and when they found out about sexual assault allegations, which was due to be finalised sometime in June.

The Prime Minister’s chief of staff John Kunkel has run an investigation into claims staff “backgrounded” the media against the partner of a victim of an alleged rape in a parliamentary office. 

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet deputy secretary Stephanie Foster has reviewed the supports and complaints process available to political staffers in a report that has been handed to Mr Morrison.

Kate Jenkins’ independent inquiry into the workplace culture in Parliament House is due to report in November.