Page 3771 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2013
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Recommendation 6, “Training for managers”, is a very instructive recommendation. It says:
That the Head of Service and agency heads finalise as a matter of priority induction training for new managers, and an ongoing program of training and support to managers of people in line with the HR master classes initiative.
I have to ask how we can have senior managers in the ACT public service who do not have such basic skills and knowledge already. Such training would form part of any basic management 101 module. If indeed such basic skills are lacking, is it any wonder we have so many instances of workplace harassment and bullying by managers?
The remainder of the minister’s statement would lead us to believe that all matters are now resolved. They are not, Madam Speaker. Several matters, including some that involve allegations against current serving senior managers, remain under investigation.
The minister wants us to believe that CIT is a changed beast. She and the commissioner have indicated that CIT has demonstrated genuine commitment and goodwill in its response. Are genuine commitment and goodwill truly demonstrated when CIT senior management took seven months to respond to the claims lodged with them by the commissioner in December last year? Seven months! And it was not as if they were not aware of the issues. WorkSafe ACT had already delivered a stinging critique of CIT management, as did the former education minister when he issued an improvement notice, both of which were necessary because CIT simply did not accept it had a problem. I hesitate to call this a whitewash, but I am struggling to find another description.
Questions were asked of Mr Barr when he was the education minister. As far back as 2009 this was an issue well known and well denied. Dr Bourke’s actions need to be recognised because he was the first education minister to at least start the process of scrutiny.
Workplace bullying is not the exclusive domain of the CIT. We have seen it demonstrated also in the Department of Health, and no doubt there are more examples yet to be discovered. It is one thing to have workplace harassment. It is how we deal with it that is the critical measure. If we continue to paper over what is a serious cancer, we will learn nothing and it will continue. Justice must not only be done but appear to be done. I am not convinced that some of the victims have yet received the appropriate recognition of their trauma.
The Canberra Liberals will continue to expose failure to protect people in their workplace environment and will not hesitate to hold to account those found to be responsible. We cannot allow the bullies to win and prosper, and there remain too many victims who believe the bullies have won.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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