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| Sexual harassment and bullying rife in Australian federal police, says report | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Harassment and bullying is widespread within the Australian federal police, with nearly 50% of women reporting sexual harassment in the past five years, an investigation has found. | Harassment and bullying is widespread within the Australian federal police, with nearly 50% of women reporting sexual harassment in the past five years, an investigation has found. |
| Off the back of her work with the defence force, the former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has now completed a review of the AFP. | Off the back of her work with the defence force, the former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has now completed a review of the AFP. |
| After six months of work and more than 1,000 interviews, she concludes the extent of sexual harassment and bullying warrants an urgent need for action. She found: | After six months of work and more than 1,000 interviews, she concludes the extent of sexual harassment and bullying warrants an urgent need for action. She found: |
| Broderick recommends a specialised and independent office should be set up and headed by an assistant commissioner, reporting directly to the AFP commissioner, to investigate claims and support victims. | Broderick recommends a specialised and independent office should be set up and headed by an assistant commissioner, reporting directly to the AFP commissioner, to investigate claims and support victims. |
| Many women indicated they had rewarding and worthwhile careers in the AFP, but for a large proportion their experiences were tainted by a range of challenges, including: | Many women indicated they had rewarding and worthwhile careers in the AFP, but for a large proportion their experiences were tainted by a range of challenges, including: |
| Others spoke of the struggle to choose between a career and family, and a stigma attached to maternity leave. | Others spoke of the struggle to choose between a career and family, and a stigma attached to maternity leave. |
| But Broderick commended the AFP for trying to create a more flexible workplace, through trials of split shifts and other rostering initiatives. She proposed a “flex by default” policy, which would see refusal of flexible hours reviewed by senior leaders. | But Broderick commended the AFP for trying to create a more flexible workplace, through trials of split shifts and other rostering initiatives. She proposed a “flex by default” policy, which would see refusal of flexible hours reviewed by senior leaders. |
| Her review also found women were under-represented across the AFP. As of April 2016, women made up 35% of all personnel and 22% of police personnel. | Her review also found women were under-represented across the AFP. As of April 2016, women made up 35% of all personnel and 22% of police personnel. |
| Despite the findings, Broderick says there’s no reason for reduced community confidence. “Quite the contrary,” she said. “In all my interactions with the AFP leadership team I have observed a strong desire to step forward in a transformative manner, not just tinkering around the edges.” | Despite the findings, Broderick says there’s no reason for reduced community confidence. “Quite the contrary,” she said. “In all my interactions with the AFP leadership team I have observed a strong desire to step forward in a transformative manner, not just tinkering around the edges.” |
| The AFP commissioner, Andrew Colvin, admitted to being disturbed by the level of bullying and sexual harassment within the organisation. “These practices will not be tolerated and I am putting in place actions which will respond positively to all 24 recommendations in this report,” he said. | The AFP commissioner, Andrew Colvin, admitted to being disturbed by the level of bullying and sexual harassment within the organisation. “These practices will not be tolerated and I am putting in place actions which will respond positively to all 24 recommendations in this report,” he said. |
| An assistant commissioner, Ray Johnson, will head up a new division to lead the reform process. | An assistant commissioner, Ray Johnson, will head up a new division to lead the reform process. |