'Absolute joke': big bill for legal advice for MPs and staff

The figure has been described by Greens senator Larissa Waters as "an absolute joke" amid calls for reform.

The culture within Parliament House is under the microscope after an explosive Four Corners investigation which accused two senior Coalition ministers of misconduct.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge was accused of bullying a media adviser with whom he'd had an affair, while Attorney-General Christian Porter was alleged to have behaved inappropriately with a young woman in a bar. Mr Porter has denied the allegations and is considering his legal options.

Ex-staffer Rachelle Miller has also lodged a formal complaint against Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, accusing her of sending demeaning messages and forcing her out through a fake redundancy process. Ms Miller says she has since found herself "blacklisted" from other Coalition staffer roles.

Ministerial staff are employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act, known as the MOP(S) Act, which gives the employing MPs the ability to hire and fire at will.

Parliamentary staff can make complaints about bullying and harassment to the Department of Finance.

However the department has no capacity to take disciplinary action against either a parliamentarian or a staffer if the allegations are upheld.

"Under the MOP(S) Act parliamentarians can employ staff to assist them to carry out duties as a member of parliament. As such, only the employing parliamentarian can direct any action if a complaint about bullying and harassment is substantiated," a Department of Finance spokesperson confirmed.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has left the door open to making changes to the act.

A review has also been under way since February.

The department said it worked closely with complainants to address their concerns.

"It may involve consulting with the parties to the complaint to resolve the situation which could result in changes to work practices, additional training or voluntary mediation. In some cases a formal investigation is undertaken by an independent specialist," a spokesperson said.

"In line with the policy, at the completion of a formal investigation, the reviewer will provide a report to Finance."

From there, the report is used as "the basis for a discussion" with the employing MP about further action.

"Possible actions can include such things as providing workplace information and training, monitoring workplace behaviour, an apology or a verbal or written warning," the department said.

Analysis of the government's contract register shows it spent nearly $491,843 on legal advice in relation to members of parliament and their staff between December 2011 and November 2017.

It equates to around $21,000 per contract.

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Senator Waters said spending half a million dollars on a reporting system that could not result in any meaningful action was "an absolute joke".

Comcare also confirmed it had received a small number of workers' compensation claims in the past five years from workers employed under the MOPS Act where work-related bullying or harassment was the cause of injury.

"Not all of these claims were accepted," a spokesman said.

But the Greens say an independent parliamentary standards commissioner is needed to investigate complaints, and, where complaints are upheld, censure, fine, or suspend offending MPs from Parliament.

"The existing complaints process is far too weak, with no consequence for MPs or staff who have bullied or harassed others," Senator Waters said.

"The only people in Parliament facing repercussions for workplace harassment and bullying in this place are the complainants. We need to change that."

Senator Birmingham has previously defended the Department of Finance process as being conducted "independently, thoroughly and rigorously".