Who can make a complaint
A complaint can be made by a person who is a current or former:
- parliamentarian,
- Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 employee,
- Parliamentary Service employee,
- a person who carries out work for a parliamentarian predominantly at a Commonwealth parliamentary workplace (called ‘designated workers’ in the Act eg a volunteer or intern) for post-Code conduct only,
- other person who works predominantly at a Commonwealth parliamentary workplace (called ‘non-core participants’ in the Act eg a member of the press gallery or a contracted employee) for post-Code conduct only,
- Australian Federal Police appointee or Australian Public Service employee (eg a Departmental Liaison Officer) predominantly working form Parliament House for post-Code conduct only, or
- COMCAR driver for post-Code conduct only.
What a complaint can be made about
A complaint can be made about allegations of a breach of the Behaviour Code for Australian Parliamentarians, Behaviour Code for Parliamentarian Staff and the Behaviour Standards for Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (called ‘post-Code conduct’ in the Act).
The complaint needs to involve conduct that occurred on or after 14 October 2024 (Code commencement day).
A complaint can also be made about the following conduct, where the conduct occurred before 14 October 2024 (called ‘pre-Code conduct’ in the Act):
- sexual assault,
- assault,
- sexual harassment,
- harassment,
- bullying, and
- unreasonable behaviour towards another person that creates a risk to work health and safety.
The IPSC cannot investigate conduct that forms part of proceedings in Parliament. This conduct will continue to be dealt with by the Houses of the Parliament in accordance with their procedures.
Who can be investigated
Complaints can be made about a person who is a current or former:
- parliamentarian,
- Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 employee,
- a person who carries out work for a parliamentarian predominantly at a Commonwealth parliamentary workplace (called ‘designated workers’ in the Act e.g. a volunteer or intern) for post-Code conduct only, or
- other person who works predominantly at a Commonwealth parliamentary workplace (called ‘non-core participants’ in the Act e.g. a member of the press gallery or a contracted employee).
The IPSC cannot investigate a complaint about conduct of:
- a person employed or appointed under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999,
- a person employed or appointed under the Public Service Act 1999,
- an AFP appointee.
Allegations of misconduct against these employees is dealt with by the relevant employing agency in accordance with the statutory frameworks governing these employees.
How to make a complaint
To make a complaint to the IPSC, you need to be, or have been, affected by the alleged conduct. This may be the case if you have been directly subjected to conduct or have witnessed conduct.
All complaints must be made in writing and include:
- details of the allegation
- any evidence to support the complaint, and
- the complainant’s name and contact details.
The IPSC is independent and impartial. This means the IPSC cannot make a case for a complainant or advocate for a complainant. The IPSC cannot investigate anonymous complaints.
If something has happened to you, or a complaint has been made against you, in the workplace you can access counselling and support services. You may remain anonymous when contacting the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for support.
Complaints can be sent to
Email: enquiry@ipsc.gov.au
Phone: 1800 01 4772 (1800 01 IPSC)
Please refer to our Privacy Collection Statement.
Who can make a referral to the IPSC?
The following people can refer a conduct issue to the IPSC:
- a parliamentarian may refer a person who they employ or who works predominantly from their office (the parliamentarian may be assisting a person they employ as a complainant or may be referring a person the employ as a respondent),
- the Leader of a Parliamentary party may refer a parliamentarian who is a member of their party (as a respondent),
- a Presiding Officer may refer a member of the House over which they preside (as a respondent),
- the PWSS CEO may refer a conduct issue. This would occur if the CEO considers an investigation would be appropriate.
A decision on whether an investigation will be commenced would remain a decision for the IPSC.
The IPSC cannot investigate conduct that forms part of proceedings in Parliament.
A referral to the IPSC must be made in writing and include:
- details of the allegation
- any evidence to support the complaint,
- the name and contact details of the referrer, and
- the name and contact details of the complainant (if any).
A referral to the IPSC must be made with the complainant’s consent. An exception is where the referrer is reasonably satisfied a referral is reasonably necessary to comply with a duty under work health and safety law.
Referrals can be sent to
Email: enquiry@ipsc.gov.au
Phone: 1800 01 4772 (1800 01 IPSC)