EMMA MCBRIDE, ASSISTANT MINISTER: Thank you. I'm proud to join my colleague the Deputy Speaker here today, an historic day. 12 months since an apology was made to those victims of harassment and bullying following the Jenkins Report.
I also want to give my thanks for the courage and the bravery of those 1,800 people who made submissions to make this such a powerful report that we are determined to act on. I want to acknowledge my colleague, the Deputy Speaker, Sharon Claydon, who chaired the Joint Select Committee and the important work that they've progressed.
That means today, a standards of codes of conduct draft will be able to be put in both the House and in the Chamber.
As the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, I know just how important it is to work in a safe and respectful workplace. And our parliament is determined to act on the drivers of distress, to make sure that gender imbalance, power imbalance, lack of transparency and accountability, are acted on to make sure that this is a safe and respectful workplace for everyone.
On sitting days there's more than 4,000 people who work in this building, but who also work in Commonwealth buildings across the country, and we need to make sure as the Sex Discrimination Commissioner said, this workplace is a unique workplace, but it's not an exceptional workplace. We need to make sure that the best work practices exist in our workplaces.
I just also wanted to just make some comments, as of February 20, boosters will be available to all adults for COVID-19. Minister Butler will be standing up later today to talk about this important step as part of our COVID-19 response to make sure that everyone has the best protection. As the Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health. I would encourage all adults over 65, particularly those at risk of severe COVID-19 infection to get their booster. So, from February 20 all adults will be able to get their booster.
Thank you.
ENDS