Page 856 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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on the importance of defending and protecting the federal public service. She talks the talk; however, we are yet to see this government actually walk the walk.
We have seen 200 cases of violence against teachers in only the first month back at school. Yet the government is denying teachers an independent inquiry into violence in ACT schools and the handling of these incidents. Instead, the government has set up an advisory group, which we have heard is unlikely to even hear from the teachers affected by this violence and bullying.
In ACT Health, we have seen 35 per cent of survey respondents say that they have been bullied over the past 12 months and 12 per cent indicate that they have been subject to physical and sexual abuse at work. We have heard from public servants that there are zero consequences for bullying in ACT Health, and we have heard much of the toxic, dysfunctional culture of bullying, harassment, and intimidation.
What is this government doing to defend and protect these public servants? Why is this government refusing to vigorously refute physical and emotional attacks against ACT public servants? Where is the government, while hardworking, skilled, dedicated ACT public servants are leaving the public service because of systemic bullying and cultural issues? This government continues to let down ACT public servants. Maybe Ms Cheyne should look at the actions of her government first.
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (3.40): I rise in support of Ms Cheyne’s motion, particularly noting the importance of a strong and secure public service to the people of the ACT. Like Ms Cheyne, I am a former public servant. As a former public servant, I understand the importance of investing in and protecting both the ACT and Australian public services.
Over the past few years we have seen the negative effects that cuts and pork-barrelling from the federal coalition government have had on the Australian public service. I have previously spoken in this place about the outrageous relocation of the APVMA from Canberra to Armidale, which cost taxpayers $25.6 million. On top of the huge waste of public money, the relocation sparked concern from CropLife, the agricultural chemical peak body, and public servants themselves, including the former chief executive of the APVMA. Since the relocation of the APVMA, the coalition has continued to push its agenda of decentralisation, despite grave concern from people right across the country, including the ACT government.
In relation to this motion today, I would like to highlight in particular the damage that the coalition government has inflicted on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, an authority that has a vital role to play in protecting our natural environment and ensuring that communities within the basin can continue to thrive. It is clear that announcements surrounding the funding and restructure of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority go beyond the intention of the bipartisan approach that the MDBA’s mission is founded on. The current government should not be playing politics with an authority that requires strong support from the government of the day to operate independently in the interests of all Australians. Cuts and restructuring within the authority have led to increased uncertainty for workers, which is simply unfair and unnecessary.
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