ABC News: Jenny Magee
)Former female ministerial staffers in the Coalition government are demanding urgent changes to the way staff are hired and fired in Parliament House, arguing the current system tolerates and "hushes up" instances of sexism, and doesn't support the career progression of women.
Three women, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the ABC due to fears of career repercussions, say during their time in Canberra they witnessed several instances of men behaving badly and being moved to different roles to avoid scrutiny.
But they all allege one staff member in particular, who is currently employed by a Coalition minister, was known for repeatedly making inappropriate comments to, and about, women when he was employed in a previous role.
Another added, "It's incomprehensible that this man … could hold down a job in any workplace. Yet he's still employed, protected by ministers who think his 1970s views are fine, yet very experienced, capable women are 'managed out' with alarming regularity."
They allege the man regularly expressed his dislike for the Women's ministerial portfolio, refused to help clean up after an office dinner because he viewed it as "women's work", told another woman she could not go home until she had cleaned up glasses, and often made derogatory remarks about female journalists or staff.
His employment was not continued in one office following a ministerial reshuffle.
A substantial amount of time after he left, he was so disliked that a former senior male co-worker fired off a scathing email, outlining the reasons he was not kept on in the office and urging him not to come near him at a cricket test match.
"I have no desire to encounter you again this year. The best indicator of future conduct, both in the workplace and elsewhere, is past conduct."
The email also outlined comments the man had allegedly made towards women, as well as alleged disparaging remarks referencing former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, current PM Scott Morrison, Liberal Party figure Tony Nutt and the Coalition's 2019 electoral prospects.
The man later left Canberra to work elsewhere for a period before returning to a federal minister's office, where he is currently employed.
ABC News: Ian Cutmore
)Women want change to hiring practises
The three women, who are prepared to defend the veracity of their claims in court if necessary, say the government now has an opportunity to totally overhaul the way people are hired in Parliament House.
One argues it should be compulsory for new hires in ministerial offices to be subject to more thorough workplace background checks.
"At a minimum, if someone has worked in parliament before, ministers or chiefs of staff, should be calling their former offices and checking their backgrounds, so that people can't just rehabilitate their reputations by working in state or territory politics," she said.
"It's not good enough for people to say, well, we didn't know. It's not that hard to find out."
The ABC understands that the man's former supervisor was not contacted when he applied for his current job.
The second woman believes a big part of the problem is that too many immature graduates from private schools are being accepted into junior office roles, as a result of who — not what — they know.
"Ministers should be hiring the brightest and most experienced," she said.
"These people talk more about Qantas frequent flyer status and premium lounge access than solving the issues impacting Australians."
The third woman believes the Prime Minister's Office needs to more deeply consider performance and competence, instead of just party loyalty, when making hiring decisions.
"The PMO [should] take a more proactive role in ensuring quality [especially female] staff with institutional knowledge are mentored and encouraged to stay," she said.
"We need a pipeline of talent of both genders."
Some of the man's current colleagues say they enjoy working with him and hold his work in high regard.
Several offices in the Morrison government have been approached for comment about the allegations and their hiring policies but are yet to respond.
