This article contains references to sexual assault.
Crowded rallies, an apology to alleged victims and a heated Question Time. Parliament's first sitting day of the year was as eventful as it was chaotic.
Tuesday began with protesters swarming outside Parliament House in Canberra, with some championing permanent visas for Afghan refugees and others, an end to vaccine mandates.
For one brief moment, the disparate groups appeared to merge, with anti-mandatory vaccine protesters chanting “free the refugees”.
Nationals MP George Christensen, Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick, and United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly have all voiced support for the protests against vaccine mandates in recent days.
Mr Kelly went one step further, delivering an open letter outlining protesters’ grievances to the Prime Minister and signing a small group of them into Parliament House.
United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly at an anti-vaccination rally outside Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, February 5, 2022. Source: AAP
Acknowledgment of bullying and sexual assault in parliament
As protesters blasted The Beatles’ classic hit All You Need Is Love on the lawn outside Parliament House, the mood inside was far more sombre.
Political staffers Rachelle Miller and Brittany Higgins were in attendance as federal parliament delivered an apology to alleged victims of bullying, harassment and sexual assault within Commonwealth workplaces.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed Ms Higgins directly during his speech, who alleges she was raped in a ministerial office in 2019.
"I am sorry. We are sorry. I am sorry to Ms Higgins for the terrible things that took place here," he said.
"The place that should have been a place for safety and contribution, turned out to be a nightmare.”
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the Jenkins Report, which found one in three people who work as parliamentary staffers had experienced sexual harassment, was a reminder of the parliament’s responsibility to take action.
"No word any of us says in here is worth a thing if it does not lead to action," he told the House of Representatives.
"We can make a difference but it would take real and sustained effort to create the lasting cultural change that we need."
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins at the March 4 Justice rally in Canberra. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
A fiery Question Time
On the first day of parliament, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was labelled a "hypocrite" by a Labor Minister during a discussion over amendments to the religious discrimination bill.
Labor Member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander accused the federal government of playing "political games with people's fate".
"This is horrific. That we, this parliament, would consider introducing inappropriate, poorly thought out, and perhaps even dangerous legislation, without having it reviewed," he said.
"I just don't see the need to bring it in, at the 11th hour. I think it's a political tool.
"It's being used by the prime minister in particular, and some of his cohort, and I think the government's action should be seen for what they are."
The latest amendments to the religious discrimination bill would see same-sex-attracted students protected from expulsion due to their sexual orientation but allows religious schools to expel trans students on the basis of their gender identity.
Greens leader Adam Bandt earlier questioned the prime minister about whether under the government’s proposed bill would become a "trojan horse for hate" that would increase discrimination.
Mr Morrison responded saying the laws were aimed at providing “positive” protection that prevents discrimination against people of religious faith.
“I took this to the Australian people and they supported us,” he told the house of representatives.
“They supported at the ballot box those protections being provided to people of religious faith.”
It came hours after Labor Member Tim Watts described Mr Morrison as a “fraud”.
Mr Morrison had been commending the Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks for her work leading the inquiry into the social media bill when Mr Watts interjected.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to a statement of acknowledgment of harassment in the workplace of Commonwealth Parliament. Source: AAP
Speaker Andrew Wallace asked Mr Watts to withdraw the comment as Mr Morrison hit back, saying, “It seems trolls aren't limited to the Internet.”
Things escalated from there as the federal government was grilled over its handling of COVID-19 transmission in aged care facilities.
Mr Albanese called on Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck to resign - a motion which the government used its numbers to shut down.
He accused the government of focusing on internal issues instead of prioritising the health and safety of the vulnerable.
"The problem is ... the [government’s] distractions, their dishonesty and their disunity is stopping them looking after the interests of Australians, particularly those people in aged care," Mr Albanese said.
But the prime minister defended its management of aged care, saying the government is doing "everything it can" to help the elderly.
“At every moment of this pandemic, we have sought to provide every single support we possibly can to ensure we can be assisting both the workforce and those who are engaged in providing that care," he told the House of Representatives.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The government was also taken to task on amendments to its religious discrimination bill that would not protect transgender students from being expelled.
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