THE CASE for SAFE

Last year was a turning point for Australia as the #MeToo movement infiltrated federal politics, highlighting the ongoing issues of sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace. Despite calls for serious action, little has been done. Here, we join forces with seven high-profile women to continue the fight for change.

- Kristine Ziwica and Sarah Grant

JULIA BANKS FORMER LIBERAL MP AND CORPORATE LAWYER

When Julia Banks resigned as a Liberal MP in 2018, she delivered a clear message about the party’s treatment of women. But it wasn’t until she published her book, Power Play, last year that the full scale of what she endured was revealed. “The three months under Scott Morrison’s leadership was the most gut-wrenching period of my career,” recalls Banks, who entered politics in 2015. “In those three months there was a concerted effort to discredit my mental health and my professional reputation. It was an abuse of power, and I knew in my heart that I had to speak out about it,” adds Banks, who was inundated with messages from women identifying with her position.