Comments on: Staffers must be better protected from chair-sniffing MPs http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:13:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Terry Allan http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15472 Terry Allan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15472 As a former electorate office staffer caught in this situation, thank God someone is at last taking notice. It's a pity it's a chair-sniffing episode that has prompted the scrutiny, though, rather than one of the more shocking and tragic outcomes I've witnessed. I am aware of at least two cases of suicide associated with the office at which I worked, where the behavior of the MP in question was at least a factor. The distressing reality for staff members who find themselves in this position (at least in some jurisdictions) is that there is simply NOWHERE TO TURN, particularly if you happen to work for a Labor MP. The employer (the MP), is not an option, the Premier's senior staff took no action, the speaker's office was mute, Parliamentary Services was impotent, the Union wandered around in circles making sympathetic noises and was eventually neutered. All the while, staff are living and having to tolerate the MPs abhorrent behavior, and living in fear of the behavior being exposed As a former electorate office staffer caught in this situation, thank God someone is at last taking notice. It’s a pity it’s a chair-sniffing episode that has prompted the scrutiny, though, rather than one of the more shocking and tragic outcomes I’ve witnessed. I am aware of at least two cases of suicide associated with the office at which I worked, where the behavior of the MP in question was at least a factor. The distressing reality for staff members who find themselves in this position (at least in some jurisdictions) is that there is simply NOWHERE TO TURN, particularly if you happen to work for a Labor MP. The employer (the MP), is not an option, the Premier’s senior staff took no action, the speaker’s office was mute, Parliamentary Services was impotent, the Union wandered around in circles making sympathetic noises and was eventually neutered. All the while, staff are living and having to tolerate the MPs abhorrent behavior, and living in fear of the behavior being exposed

]]> By: Jessica Stewart http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15473 Jessica Stewart Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15473 I worked in the NSW Government's Premier's Department between 1994 and 1999. During that period, Terry Griffiths, a MInister in the Fahey Government, had his entire staff resign simultaneously. It emerged that there was a serious case of harrassment going on. In response to this, and my memory is fading a little on the details, but in response to this specific case, we, in Premier's wrote a number of substantive briefs and then a policy detailing the very lack of protection staffers faced in electoral offices, and what to do about it. We made a number of recommendations on their employment, taking away the MP as their employer and substituting, I think, the Director-General of Premiers, the 'head' of the publc service. I do not know what happened to this body of work. As an aside, I also worked for nearly six years, very happily, with a Federal parliamentarian. Working with the good ones is a joy. I worked in the NSW Government’s Premier’s Department between 1994 and 1999. During that period, Terry Griffiths, a MInister in the Fahey Government, had his entire staff resign simultaneously. It emerged that there was a serious case of harrassment going on.

In response to this, and my memory is fading a little on the details, but in response to this specific case, we, in Premier’s wrote a number of substantive briefs and then a policy detailing the very lack of protection staffers faced in electoral offices, and what to do about it. We made a number of recommendations on their employment, taking away the MP as their employer and substituting, I think, the Director-General of Premiers, the ‘head’ of the publc service. I do not know what happened to this body of work.

As an aside, I also worked for nearly six years, very happily, with a Federal parliamentarian. Working with the good ones is a joy.

]]> By: Chris Johnson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15474 Chris Johnson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15474 I’m also a former electorate officer who worked for yet another of those mental 16-year-old MP’s in a system that assumes all MP’s are responsible. We were left to cope with a confrontational, autocratic, erratic individual whose behaviours were apparently Teflon-coated! The Premier, Clerk, Speaker, HR and the union were never prepared to negotiate on evidenced breaches of WH&S or OHS such as being ordered to drive with this sozzled character to a local club where she consumed a bottle of red and drove us back to the office that her driver was baby-sitting! Parsimony on the electorate allowance left staff to vacuum, dust and clean (yes toilets) and roll out the rubbish bin weekly. And if you think constits got a better deal, you're wrong. You could write a book on the bizarre activities of electorate employment courtesy of MP's with limited intellect and maturity. As our MP so often said ‘I can do anything I want to’. Locked in for a term and with the support of her party, she did. I’m also a former electorate officer who worked for yet another of those mental 16-year-old MP’s in a system that assumes all MP’s are responsible. We were left to cope with a confrontational, autocratic, erratic individual whose behaviours were apparently Teflon-coated! The Premier, Clerk, Speaker, HR and the union were never prepared to negotiate on evidenced breaches of WH&S or OHS such as being ordered to drive with this sozzled character to a local club where she consumed a bottle of red and drove us back to the office that her driver was baby-sitting! Parsimony on the electorate allowance left staff to vacuum, dust and clean (yes toilets) and roll out the rubbish bin weekly. And if you think constits got a better deal, you’re wrong. You could write a book on the bizarre activities of electorate employment courtesy of MP’s with limited intellect and maturity. As our MP so often said ‘I can do anything I want to’. Locked in for a term and with the support of her party, she did.

]]> By: David Sanderson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15475 David Sanderson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15475 There is no need for a new code. All that is needed is a spray similar to the ones people use to keep dogs off their property. A daily spray of the chair seat will keep Buswell and his ilk at bay. Another alternative is to 'doctor' all politicians and remove their sense of smell. Prevention is better than cure as my grandmother never told me. There is no need for a new code. All that is needed is a spray similar to the ones people use to keep dogs off their property. A daily spray of the chair seat will keep Buswell and his ilk at bay. Another alternative is to ‘doctor’ all politicians and remove their sense of smell. Prevention is better than cure as my grandmother never told me.

]]> By: Col Jamieson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15476 Col Jamieson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15476 David if your boss was an open gay and sniffed your seat and snapped your y-front as he pursed his lips and blew you a kiss, you'd biff him, with the support of the Human Rights Commission. If I biff my MP or even warn him on such antics, I'm sacked. I get the Code of Conduct thrown at me and my increments and entitlements removed. My MP says I'm 'disloyal', the Party supports their sitting MP and the Parliament's hamstrung because I'm 'hired' out to the MP. The MP's Code of Conduct is as irrelevant as my employment status and despite the wet lettuce protests from Oppositions, they're not going to change a thing. MP staff are borrowed labour on borrowed time. Over to you Gillard and Rudd with what I suspect will be limited sweeping IR reforms. David if your boss was an open gay and sniffed your seat and snapped your y-front as he pursed his lips and blew you a kiss, you’d biff him, with the support of the Human Rights Commission. If I biff my MP or even warn him on such antics, I’m sacked. I get the Code of Conduct thrown at me and my increments and entitlements removed. My MP says I’m ‘disloyal’, the Party supports their sitting MP and the Parliament’s hamstrung because I’m ‘hired’ out to the MP. The MP’s Code of Conduct is as irrelevant as my employment status and despite the wet lettuce protests from Oppositions, they’re not going to change a thing. MP staff are borrowed labour on borrowed time. Over to you Gillard and Rudd with what I suspect will be limited sweeping IR reforms.

]]> By: Barbara Hines http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/07/staffers-must-be-better-protected-from-chair-sniffing-mps/#comment-15477 Barbara Hines Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15477 After 25 years as a brilliant journalist my sister became an MP staffer. That was the end of her working career. Two of her workmates suicided and she too was on the receiving end of the same bullying and harassment behaviours that ended when she was unfairly and illegally dismissed. Why an inquiry hasn't been launched into the deaths and human suffering of staff working for one particular now former MP is beyond comprehension. And why workplace safety and protection at the highest level of administration doesn't exist is also cause for investigation. After 25 years as a brilliant journalist my sister became an MP staffer. That was the end of her working career. Two of her workmates suicided and she too was on the receiving end of the same bullying and harassment behaviours that ended when she was unfairly and illegally dismissed. Why an inquiry hasn’t been launched into the deaths and human suffering of staff working for one particular now former MP is beyond comprehension. And why workplace safety and protection at the highest level of administration doesn’t exist is also cause for investigation.

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