‘We don’t tolerate it’: Labor MP investigated over bullying allegations

A Queensland state MP is being investigated for allegedly bullying a staffer.

A Palaszczuk government minister declared “bullying is just not acceptable” as reports reveal a state Labor backbencher is being investigated amid allegations he bullied a staff member.

A formal complaint was received by the party last year alleging Ipswich West MP Jim Madden had bullied a female electorate office staffer, according to reports in The Australian.

The report revealed findings from the investigation along with recommendations will be handed to Labor state secretary Kate Flanders who will be tasked with making a final decision on the matter.

The media reports did not suggest Mr Madden had done anything wrong, instead it simply revealed allegations were being investigated.

When contacted by The Courier-Mail, Ms Flanders declined to comment insisting: “I can’t provide any context on a specific investigation”.

Ipswich West state MP Jim Madden. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

The state secretary said the party had updated its code of conduct following allegations of workplace harassment and bullying at Parliament House in Canberra.

“If there’s an issue between party members, you can make a complaint to a respect contact officer under the code of conduct, and then that’s referred to the party’s complaints manager,” Ms Flanders said.

“If required, those complaints are investigated.

“Some things might not be at the level where there is an investigation required or everyone might agree on the facts and then there’s just an outcome from those complaints.”

Ms Flanders said the “complex process” was adopted in the wake of the federal parliament scandals to ensure “we had a uniform code of conduct across both the federal ALP and every state branch to make sure that people felt safe to make complaints”.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch says she doesn’t condone bullying. Picture: Lachie Millard

On Sunday, Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch was pressed for a reaction into the allegations.

She insisted she was unaware of the investigation or media reports into Mr Madden but she provided strong comments about her views on bullying.

“It doesn’t matter where you work, who you are, what job you might have, what title you might have — bullying is just not acceptable, not in this day and age and not ever,” Ms Enoch said.

“I’ll let that investigation do what it needs to do but I don’t condone bullying.

“I’ve been the subject of bullying in my life as a kid, I think we’ve all felt that, and I’ve felt that in some workplaces in the early 80s and 90s but these days we don’t tolerate it and nor should we.”

The Courier-Mail attempted to contact Mr Madden.