'Overdue' MP complaints body set to finally get legs

Premier Jacinta Allan and attorney-general Jaclyn Symes said the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Bill 2024 would be introduced in the lower house on Tuesday.

The bill will establish a parliamentary integrity commission to investigate allegations against MPs of corruption and misconduct, such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation.

A parliamentary ethics committee will also be set up under the bill to promote ethical practices by MPs.

"You could argue it's overdue," Ms Allan said.

"We have embarked on the most significant overhaul of workplace standards in any parliament in the country."

The commission will not be given retrospective powers, meaning dumped Labor MPs Will Fowles and Darren Cheeseman cannot be investigated for past instances of alleged misconduct.

If the legislation passes, Ms Allan said the commission would produce reports and can recommend sanctions to parliament's upper and lower house privilege committees.

The relevant privilege committee would have to explain if it did not follow through on a recommended punishment in a report tabled in parliament.

Under the bill, one of the commissioners will employed full time and the other two will work on a part-time basis.

Commissioners will be appointed for five years, with the selection process to be led by the premier's department.

Parliament's powerful integrity and oversight committee would have to endorse any appointment to the commission.

MPs who have have served in federal or state parliament within the last five years cannot be appointed to the commission under the legislation's selection criteria.

"There needs to be relevant skill sets," Ms Allan said.

"Whether it's some experience in workplace relations, industrial relations, human rights ... financial skills as well."

Earlier, Ms Allan announced her government had established an Australian-first ministerial role to change men's behaviour.

Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson was appointed parliamentary secretary for men's behaviour change, working to end deaths of Victorian women at the hands of men.

"This is the first position of its kind in Australia and will focus largely on the influence the internet and social media have on boys' and men's attitudes towards women and building respectful relationships," she said.

Albert Park MP Nina Taylor was named parliamentary secretary for education, replacing Mr Cheeseman after he was axed from the role and later Labor's parliamentary party over allegations of repeated inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.

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Australian Associated Press