The Albanese government is set to introduce its long-awaited bill to set up a new body with the power to investigate allegations of breaches of parliamentary standards.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the maximum fine for politicians - 5 per cent of an MP or Senator's base salary, or about $11,000 - was set at a level reflective of penalties for public servants who breach the Code of Conduct.
"The level of fine, and it has come up through the consultations ... It follows what's in place in the public service," Senator Gallagher told ABC radio on Wednesday morning.
This level was set to enable "a non-legal process to provide a punitive sanction," she said, just as the penalties applied by the Australian Public Service Commission.
The government will introduce legislation to establish the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission on Wednesday.
This was a key recommendation of the 2021 Jenkins report into into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, which exposed instances of bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
The report found that "revolting and humiliating" practices were common in the workplaces of Parliament House where the damaging culture left a "trail of devastation".
The types of sanctions imposed will vary depending on whether the respondent is a current or former parliamentarian, staffer (MOPS employee) or other parliamentary workplace participant.
Senator Gallagher said the government had consulted with the Coalition while drafting the bill, but that it was unclear if it would have the cross-party support needed to pass into law.
The government has committed $3.8 million in 2024-25 to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for initial funding to establish the IPSC from 1 October 2024, subject to the passage of legislation.
