Labor leaders lament appalling allegations

While much of the focus has centred on sexual assault allegations within the Liberal Party, current and former Labor female staff members have also shared their experiences of harassment and abuse.

Opposition frontbencher Tanya Plibersek, Labor's spokesperson for women, said the party needed to do better.

"It makes me terribly sad and sorry that we haven't got it right for this generation of staff yet," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

"And it's a real reminder that we need to keep working ourselves, in our party, to provide a safe workplace and supportive workplace for all of our staff."

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese encouraged other women to come forward and speak out.

"I encourage men to listen to those concerns and to respond," he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles said he believed the Labor women who shared their experiences.

"On behalf of the party, I am deeply sorry for the experiences that these women have had," he said.

"What matters now going forward is that we do everything we can to ensure that this behaviour stops."

Mr Marles said Labor could not duck away from the allegations or point the finger at anyone else.

He said there were cultural problems across all sides of politics inside Parliament House.

"This is our house which we need to get in order."

Labor's national executive agreed last week to adopt four different policies; a code of conduct, a sexual harassment policy, a bullying policy and a transparent complaints process.

Australian Associated Press