Senator Lines, who's been in the Senate since 2013, has labelled sexism an "institutionalised attribute of Westminster parliaments", and says ridding the Australian system of it is an absolute must.
"For so long, women have faced Westminster norms that were constructed to exclude them ... women now make up 57 per cent of the Senate, defying the historical precedent set before them," her submission to the committee reads.
"The United Nations states gender equality is necessary for a peaceful and sustainable world ... the Australian parliament and all its precincts must be free from sexual violence so as to restore integrity and build a stronger democracy."
Noting Australia had been a pioneer in explicitly defining sexual harassment as unlawful conduct in 1984, Senator Lines said a similar opportunity to make history was apparent.
"(The committee) has the opportunity to replicate the most effective components of and draw on the experiences of comparable parliaments to inform best practice for the Australian context," she writes.
The committee heard from gender equity campaign group Fair Agenda on Thursday, who argued current standards within parliament "emboldened perpetration and discouraged survivors" of sexual violence.
"Given their decision-making power, it's so important that role modelling of parliamentarians sets the tone for the community," campaign manager Alyssa Shaw said.
"What happens in parliament has a ripple effect in our community in terms of how we think about issues."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to implementing a code of conduct following the landmark review of workplace culture in Parliament House by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
17°C