The Equal Opportunity Commission has revealed the prevalence of sexual harassment South Australia's Parliament.

Eight people have reported being victims of sexual harassment by MPs or their staff in the past five years, with allegations including sexually suggestive comments, indecent exposure and physical assault.

It found that power dynamics, historical convention, a lack of training and accountability for MPs all contributed to driving harassment.

The review of parliamentary behaviour was triggered by the conduct of former Liberal MP Sam Duluk, who was charged with assaulting SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros.

The Equal Opportunity Commission launched a survey of parliamentary staff, and says about a quarter responded. Eighty per cent of those who reported experiencing sexual harassment did not report it.

“27.1 per cent of survey respondents reported they had experienced sexual harassment in the parliamentary workplace,” the report stated.

“Six interview participants and two participants who made written submissions described being victims of sexual harassment in the last five years, and all of those alleged incidents involved either Members of Parliament or staff of Members of Parliament as perpetrators.”

The respondents relayed a range of disturbing stories. 

“You don't want to be sitting next to him when he has had some drinks,” one participant said about an unnamed parliamentary figure.

“He put his hand up my skirt, really far up my skirt.”

Another revealed that: “The culture is rotten … the culture says if you want to advance you have to just put up with behaviour that wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else”.

SA Parliament was described as “the worst” of any workplace, with staff being “directly harassed, physically assaulted, and treated like 'property'.”

Acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner Emily Strickland made 16 recommendations, including training for MPs and staff, the creation of a new centralised parliamentary human resources division, and an enforceable code of conduct for MPs.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman tabled the report this week and said its recommendations would be carefully considered.

“Everyone has a right to be safe and to be treated with respect in their workplace, whether it's in the Parliament or a building site,” she said.

“Allegations in recent weeks in Canberra have been profoundly disturbing. Allegations of what has occurred in this Parliament have been distressing to many.

“While this review and the Government's response to this review cannot traverse these allegations, what we as a Government and a Parliament can do is put in place measures to ensure the South Australian Parliament is a safer workplace for everyone.”