Misbehaving MPs on notice

MPs are on notice after a new employment law has placed them directly responsible for their staffers. Politicians have previously been insulated from employment matters, as staffers are technically not employed by MPs, but by Parliamentary Service, the administrative arm which runs services at Parliament. But a new law designed to allow contracted employees to allege personal grievances against the business or organisation controlling them has rewritten the employment boundaries in Parliament. Misbehaving and bullying MPs came under the spotlight last year, with some parliamentary staff saying MPs engaged in ‘‘inappropriate behaviours on a regular basis’’.