POLICE COMMITTED TO STAMPING OUT WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: SPENCE
Published Thursday, 18 October, 2007 at 01:52 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Police Minister Judy Spence has today opened the Queensland Police Service ‘Harassment – Don’t Cop It!’ conference, which provides an opportunity to assess strategies in place to prevent harassment among the state’s finest.
Ms Spence said the Queensland Police Service has been very proactive in addressing issues such as harassment and bullying in the workplace, and the conference is a chance to further strengthen the policies and practices already in place.
“I believe we have excellent measures in place for dealing with harassment and discrimination in the Queensland Police Service – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of room to improve,” Ms Spence said.
“The results of the Inquiry into sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the NSW Police last year prompted us all to consider what was going on in our own backyard.
“For the Queensland Police Service to remain an organisation of integrity and trust in the eyes of members of the public, we must ensure integrity and trust between all our employees – and that is what this conference is all about.”
Ms Spence commended Commissioner Atkinson, for continuing to work hard to ensure his organisation remains one of the best workplaces for police officers in this country.
“The Queensland Police Service is the most transparent police service in Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“Prior to the Fitzgerald Inquiry police and government in this state had a reputation of corruption and vice.
“We are now all too aware of the need to constantly review the way our police service and government operates and this conference is an example of how we continue to strive to achieve best practice.
“Workplace harassment is an extremely unpleasant and harmful experience for the victims – and is not tolerated in any Queensland government department.
“Whether it is in the form of bullying, verbal, physical or sexual harassment – we simply can not and will not tolerate this practice in our society.”
Commissioner Atkinson said the conference forms part of a whole-of-department initiative established earlier this year by Assistant Commissioner Ian Stewart, Information and Communications Technology, to ensure all Service members are working in a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.
“The aim of this conference is to identify best practice policy and procedures to ensure behaviour does not get to the discrimination stage, whether this be prejudice, sexual harassment, physical or emotional violence,” Commissioner Bob Atkinson said.
“Like any other organisation, large or small, we cannot afford to be complacent when dealing with the potential of such negative workplace behaviours as harassment and bullying.
“It makes good business sense to stop harassment and bullying behaviour in its tracks.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172/ 0439 673 287 Police Media: 3015 2444
Ms Spence said the Queensland Police Service has been very proactive in addressing issues such as harassment and bullying in the workplace, and the conference is a chance to further strengthen the policies and practices already in place.
“I believe we have excellent measures in place for dealing with harassment and discrimination in the Queensland Police Service – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of room to improve,” Ms Spence said.
“The results of the Inquiry into sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the NSW Police last year prompted us all to consider what was going on in our own backyard.
“For the Queensland Police Service to remain an organisation of integrity and trust in the eyes of members of the public, we must ensure integrity and trust between all our employees – and that is what this conference is all about.”
Ms Spence commended Commissioner Atkinson, for continuing to work hard to ensure his organisation remains one of the best workplaces for police officers in this country.
“The Queensland Police Service is the most transparent police service in Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“Prior to the Fitzgerald Inquiry police and government in this state had a reputation of corruption and vice.
“We are now all too aware of the need to constantly review the way our police service and government operates and this conference is an example of how we continue to strive to achieve best practice.
“Workplace harassment is an extremely unpleasant and harmful experience for the victims – and is not tolerated in any Queensland government department.
“Whether it is in the form of bullying, verbal, physical or sexual harassment – we simply can not and will not tolerate this practice in our society.”
Commissioner Atkinson said the conference forms part of a whole-of-department initiative established earlier this year by Assistant Commissioner Ian Stewart, Information and Communications Technology, to ensure all Service members are working in a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.
“The aim of this conference is to identify best practice policy and procedures to ensure behaviour does not get to the discrimination stage, whether this be prejudice, sexual harassment, physical or emotional violence,” Commissioner Bob Atkinson said.
“Like any other organisation, large or small, we cannot afford to be complacent when dealing with the potential of such negative workplace behaviours as harassment and bullying.
“It makes good business sense to stop harassment and bullying behaviour in its tracks.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172/ 0439 673 287 Police Media: 3015 2444