Page 5917 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 2010
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“It just seems to be endemic and also the process is so lacking in transparency and information,” said union spokeswoman Bev Turello.
But Ms Turello says in the union’s experience, staff are often kept in the dark.
“They need to know if action has been taken, if appropriate action has been taken, if they’re going to be safe in their workplaces.”
The problem is that they do not. Andrew Foote said in the same article:
“I’ve spoken to a number of people at the hospital and there is a real dread, and fear and sense of helplessness”.
Let me say that again: “a real dread, and fear and sense of helplessness.” The article continues:
“It sends the message, what’s the point in complaining about bullying because nothing will get done.”
That is exactly what it does. Jon Stanhope was quoted in the media, because Katy Gallagher stayed under her rock, as saying that the inquiry would be followed up. I quote:
“I can give an absolute assurance that any of the findings will be taken absolutely seriously and if there were recommendations or implications they will be taken seriously and there’s no reason for people not to believe that,” he said.
This is Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen: “Don’t you worry about that. Don’t you worry about that.” How on earth can Jon Stanhope give that assurance if even his own minister is not allowed to see the results of the review? He cannot give the assurance. He does not know what the recommendations are. He does not know what the findings are. He has not looked at the submissions. He has not looked at the inquiry and the detail and the full report. He has seen nothing and he is giving the assurance that it is all being dealt with Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen style.
So not only is the minister saying, “I can’t see this; it’s at all at arm’s length,” but also the person that said, “No, we cannot see the review,” the chief executive, has been part of the process of dealing with this. It went so very badly wrong that now the Chief Minister is coming out and saying, “Don’t you worry about that. Don’t you worry about that”—even though he, as the minister will say, under the act, is not
allowed to look at any of the recommendations or the findings or any of the information.
What you are seeing here is not Jon Stanhope or the minister dealing with the facts. They are not. What they are dealing with is their great desire to cover up this information. Then they will say to the public, “Don’t you worry about that. We’ve got it all in hand.” But the reality is that there is a sense of dread and fear. What doctor, what nurse, will now come forward and say, “I have been harassed or I have been bullied,” if they are going to be ignored, then threatened and have it all covered up?
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