Bullying claims hit Emergency Management Victoria

THE state’s emergency response agency has been hit by bullying and harassment allegations, with one victim receiving about $70,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation.

Craig Lapsley with Premier Daniel Andrews in the State Control Centre. Picture: Mike Keating.

THE state’s emergency response agency has been hit by bullying and harassment allegations, with one victim receiving about $70,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation.

Several whistleblowers have come forward to make allegations about senior staff at Emergency Management Victoria, saying “fear and intimidation” are rife.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley acknowledged he was aware of one complaint against a senior member of staff, but said any accusations against himself would leave “a hole in my heart”.

KEY REFUGE CENTRES TO BE ACTIVATED IN MELBOURNE CBD

In the secret payout, a former staff member received about $70,000 after claiming she was the victim of harassment and inappropriate conduct.

In other cases, whistleblowers described senior EMV staff yelling at employees, belittling them in front of colleagues and in one case demanding a resignation.

Witnesses said workers had been reduced to tears in meetings, but few made official complaints.

Mr Lapsley said the only official complaint he knew of was in 2016, against a fellow senior member of staff, who the Herald Sun understands has since been promoted.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

“I understood it was against her manager ... or another director at the time,” Mr Lapsley said. “She (the victim) did work for us, we can say that and she did resign and I am aware that after she resigned that she submitted something to HR.”

Mr Lapsley added: “The change has not been easy in our place. It has been really difficult. It is hard to develop a place and a new culture there is no doubt about that.

“I treat people as I find them, I have got to lead some things that are very difficult.

“We take the culture really seriously, we have spoken to HR a number of times about people who have left. If in hindsight they are looking back at something that is not right within the organisation, I am not aware of that.”

WorkSafe Victoria has ­confirmed it “received a complaint by an EMV staff member” in 2016, which was later withdrawn. About the same time, legal proceedings were launched on behalf of the same staff member against the Department of Justice and Regulation — which oversees EMV.

The Herald Sun understands the case was settled outside of court for between $60,000 to $70,000 and the victim was required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Other alleged victims did not file official complaints but in some cases were moved to different government departments. One source said men were a target, especially when standing up for other victims.

Mr Lapsley said: “My job is not to get up in the morning and be hurtful to anyone. “But if I have done something that has upset someone or haven’t given the right support — someone’s got that view — well you know, I am a humble person and say ‘Hey, what’s that about?’ And if I have the opportunity to fix it, I will fix it without a doubt.”

Department spokesman Michael Gleeson said all allegations of misconduct are taken “extremely seriously.”

“For confidentiality reasons, we are unable to discuss individual staffing matters,” he said.

“A cultural review of the workplace was conducted last year and this has formed the basis for improving the organisational management and governance of EMV and is a central goal of EMV’s Strategic Plan 2020, with a number of actions being rolled out over the next three years.”

The claims come as Victoria’s workplace watchdog continues a formal investigation into allegations United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall bullied former MFB chief officer Peter Rau.

Allegations about Mr Marshall’s “highly distressing” behaviour were also made by former emergency services minister Jane Garrett.

Mr Marshall has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Further, the state’s human rights commissioner is carrying out a wider review into sexism and bullying within the fire services. Its release has been delayed by UFU court action.

Opposition spokesman Brad Battin described the claims as concerning, saying: “This isn’t just about the mess that Daniel Andrews has made of Victoria’s emergency services it’s also about his cover-up of very serious allegations.”

Labor government spokesman Matt Dixon declined to comment on individual cases.

[e-mail]

@alexwhitelive