Mr ADAMSON - 1994-10-05
My question relates to claims made to the media by the Australian Education Union that sexual harassment and discrimination is widespread in the Department of Education. I understand that the union has called in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to deal with the issue. Is there any justification either for the union's concerns about teachers' behaviour or for the union's actions in this matter?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, obviously the government, through its action in establishing the Anti-Discrimination Commission and various other statutory processes, has indicated that it takes harassment or discrimination of any kind very seriously. In relation to a large group of dedicated employees, such as the NT Teaching Service, I believe it is absolutely atrocious that its union should imply that there are 200 or more cases of harassment every year in that industry. The facts indicate the contrary. The union is seeking to gain a little cheap publicity at the expense of its members and that really is quite off.
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It is inappropriate also that the Australian Education Union should go to a federal group, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, that does not have resources on the ground in the Northern Territory and, more importantly, has no jurisdiction at all over territory or state government instrumentalities. I understand there is a court case that has demonstrated that it does not have jurisdiction and any activities in that area could be nullified by a subsequent court action.
On the other hand, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commission has quite extensive resources. It has the power under the Northern Territory act to be involved not only in schools but in all areas of the public or private sectors. Since its establishment, it has been providing very effective educational programs in the workplace so that employers or employees are aware of their responsibilities and their rights. Given that it has the resources on the ground, the Anti-Discrimination Commission of the Northern Territory is able to act promptly and to provide effective service to those who have a grievance.
I findit appalling that the AEU should go running off to Brisbane - or it may be based in Sydney - to enter into a joint arrangement for a reason of which I am not altogether sure. However, one thing is certain and that is the impropriety of its holding a launch in Darwin with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission without having the courtesy even to advise the Department of Education that it intends to go into the schools. They can keep out of the schools because they have no right to be there. Their lack of courtesy would warrant their exclusion for a start. Not only was that approach improper, but there was a total lack of courtesy in terms even of liaising in any way with the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commission. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity did not liaise with that office nor inform the commissioner or her staff that its people were coming here with some magnificent campaign that they wished to introduce. There are no facts to support the numbers that they talk about and, overall, it is an extremely poor show indeed.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, obviously the government, through its action in establishing the Anti-Discrimination Commission and various other statutory processes, has indicated that it takes harassment or discrimination of any kind very seriously. In relation to a large group of dedicated employees, such as the NT Teaching Service, I believe it is absolutely atrocious that its union should imply that there are 200 or more cases of harassment every year in that industry. The facts indicate the contrary. The union is seeking to gain a little cheap publicity at the expense of its members and that really is quite off.
Page 176
It is inappropriate also that the Australian Education Union should go to a federal group, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, that does not have resources on the ground in the Northern Territory and, more importantly, has no jurisdiction at all over territory or state government instrumentalities. I understand there is a court case that has demonstrated that it does not have jurisdiction and any activities in that area could be nullified by a subsequent court action.
On the other hand, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commission has quite extensive resources. It has the power under the Northern Territory act to be involved not only in schools but in all areas of the public or private sectors. Since its establishment, it has been providing very effective educational programs in the workplace so that employers or employees are aware of their responsibilities and their rights. Given that it has the resources on the ground, the Anti-Discrimination Commission of the Northern Territory is able to act promptly and to provide effective service to those who have a grievance.
I findit appalling that the AEU should go running off to Brisbane - or it may be based in Sydney - to enter into a joint arrangement for a reason of which I am not altogether sure. However, one thing is certain and that is the impropriety of its holding a launch in Darwin with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission without having the courtesy even to advise the Department of Education that it intends to go into the schools. They can keep out of the schools because they have no right to be there. Their lack of courtesy would warrant their exclusion for a start. Not only was that approach improper, but there was a total lack of courtesy in terms even of liaising in any way with the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commission. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity did not liaise with that office nor inform the commissioner or her staff that its people were coming here with some magnificent campaign that they wished to introduce. There are no facts to support the numbers that they talk about and, overall, it is an extremely poor show indeed.
Page 177
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016