Pushing buttons.. the PWSS website
Today, the Australian Government[1] launched the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (the PWSS) a new workplace complaints mechanism available to staff and Parliamentarians working in Australian Government workplaces.
The PWSS was established following a recent government review headed by Stephanie Foster PSM[2], whose report included the following comments:
The review found that the … most significant gap is the absence of readily accessible, timely, independent, trauma-informed services and response mechanisms, now partially remedied with the introduction of a dedicated 24/7 support line, 1800 APH SPT. The review found two other critical areas requiring immediate action: a trusted, independent complaints mechanism able to deliver proportionate consequences for misconduct, and tailored, face to face education and support for parliamentarians and their staff in preventing, identifying and responding to serious incidents in the workplace. Coupled with a clearly articulated leadership commitment and actions in relation to promoting a safe and respectful workplace, these findings form the basis for the recommendations in the review. These recommendations, and the suggestions provided for their implementation, have been specifically crafted in the context of the parliamentary workplace.
The tone of the report and the ten recommendations reflect a focus on preventing such behaviour occurring and in dealing with it appropriately when it does happen.
The 2020 report by the Australian Human Rights Commission, Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces [3] takes this much further, with all 55 Recommendations strongly focused on the victims of harassment – from reporting, research, training, education and support to law reform and providing appropriate environments for allegations to be heard/determined.
There is not a single recommendation in either the Foster or AHRC report that deals with or highlights the risks to those accused of harassment, rather than their victims.
And yet, the all new website for the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (pwss.gov.au) has a website page that appears to equate potential victims with those accused of inappropriate behaviour, contrary to the almost exclusive focus on victims in both reports.
I support the need for natural justice, but the playing field between victim and accused is not level. While women remain the overwhelming victims of harassment, this is about all victims vs. accused, all those without power vs. those in power - and I think the PWSS should rethink its decision to lay out two welcome mats instead of one.
Is it just me? … Other views welcome..
[1] https://www.financeminister.gov.au/media-release/2021/09/23/launch-parliamentary-workplace-support-service
[2] https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/pmc/review-parliamentary-workplace-responding-serious-incidents
[3] https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/respectwork-sexual-harassment-national-inquiry-report-2020