CABINET minister Linda Reynolds has committed to undergoing respectful workplace training being offered to politicians and staff.
Senator Reynolds was engulfed in controversy earlier this year after her former staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a male colleague inside Parliament House.
The minister later described Ms Higgins as "a lying cow" over comments about how the complaint was handled.
She has welcomed the adoption of an independent complaints mechanism for serious incidents in parliament and acknowledged the impact Ms Higgins had made.
"Certainly, the Brittany Higgins issue has been a lightning rod and it has really shone a very welcome light on practices that have been occurring for a very long time in Parliament House," Senator Reynolds told Sky News on Tuesday.
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"I've been working in and around the building for 30 years and I know first hand that change is needed, so it has been a welcome catalyst."
The complaints mechanism was the central recommendation of a major review into the parliamentary workplace.
Ms Higgins is confident it will make parliament safer for all current and future staff.
The government is also introducing voluntary one-hour training sessions on respect at work for parliamentarians and their staff.
"I will certainly be doing the training myself as all ministerial colleagues will be," Senator Reynolds said.
"It should be mandatory but I would be very surprised if any of my colleagues didn't put their hand up voluntarily to do this. We all understand how important this is to provide a safe workplace for our staff."
Senator Reynolds refused to say whether she could have handled the alleged rape differently.
"You can't go back in time," she said.
"I have certainly reflected on the circumstances and I have provided a very comprehensive statement to the AFP's investigation into this matter.
"So I am certainly, like I'm sure many other colleagues are, having a look at what our work practices are and what we could do to make the experience better for our staff."
The minister accepted the experience could have been much easier on Ms Higgins if the recommendations were in place.
"I would like to think it would make it easy for any young man or young woman working in the building, that if something happens to them, there is somewhere for them to go."
