Secret CFA review unearths widespread bullying and harassment among men and women

A SECRET report into the Country Fire Authority has revealed widespread sexual harassment and bullying, with victims fearing they would be punished for reporting abuse.

CFA trucks protest at Ararat Aerodrome waiting for the Premier Daniel Andrews to land. The Premier who was in Ararat to announce a major renewable energy initiative was driven by car and did not land at the Aerodrome.

A DAMNING secret report into the Country Fire Authority has revealed widespread sexual harassment and bullying of women, who feared they would be punished for reporting abuse.

The leaked probe revealed almost 50 per cent of non-operational respondents had reported issues and investigators unearthed some women in the agency were treated so badly they considered suicide.

Men were also targeted saying and reported they were looked over for career progression if they tried to challenge the toxic internal culture.

The report — which was compiled based on interviews with 500 CFA members — highlighted the actions of the United Firefighter Union as a concern, saying it encouraged a culture of “no transparency or accountability”.

Reports of the a toxic culture in victoria’s fire services have been known for sometime, but the leaking of the secret Interim Report on Gender Diversity and Inclusion is expected to increase the pressure on Premier Daniel Andrews.

The UFU has had a close relationship with the premier since they campaigned for him during the 2014 election.

Mr Andrews has been on the record advocating for improves gender equality of women in the workplace and will know face increased scrutiny on how he chooses to approach the CFA culture.

More than 60 per cent of the respondents for the report were women, however half of all members regardless of gender, reported being bullied and more than a third of each gender reported harassment.

The responses were from non-operational CFA staff and the authors wrote:

“the sheer volume and content of qualitative data addressing bullying, harassment and other

inappropriate conduct speaks to the seriousness of the issue.”

One woman told investigators, “the way in which people treat each other in this organisation can be absolutely appalling and there is absolutely no management of this.”

One man feared even speaking honestly because he had seen a colleague get targeted after responding to an anonymous report.

“I have stepped out in faith with the new CEO and hope that this is truly anonymous,” the man said.

The internal report was written by Professor Caroline Taylor and Angela Seach after former chief executive Lucinda Nolan commissioned the report shortly before she quit in June 2016.

She resigned rather than cave to the union and Mr Andrews’ demands during pay negotiations.

The Victorian government was engaged in a tense dispute with the union until Mr Andrews stepped in and agreed to meet its demands.

That led to emergency services minister Jane Garrett resigning, the CFA board being sacked and the CFA’s key managers quitting.

The union is also fighting in Victoria’s Supreme Court to prevent the release of another official report looking into bullying, sexism and harassment in the CFA and MFB.

— with AAP

@alexwhitelive