Palaszczuk defends investigation which cleared Queensland Health manager of crude accusations

Annastacia Palaszczuk has stood by an investigation that cleared a senior hospital manager of abusing co-workers.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has stood by an investigation into a Queensland Health manager who was accused of insulting co-workers with derogatory names including “vinegar tits” and playing a sexually charged game rating female co-workers on whether he’d “root or boot” them.

The man was recently reinstated as a senior manager at Metro North and Health Service following a 12-month investigation after 11 women complained of a toxic work culture, according to the Courier-Mail.

He was alleged to have flicked rubber bands at colleagues, operated a chaotic workplace where staff were motivated by fear, and would hurl offensive names at co-workers including “vinegar tits”, “crazy witch”, “devon head” and invited a staff member to a nearby cafe he said was a “rape dungeon”.

According to the report, the investigation “partially substantiated” the allegations but found “name calling in the team is normal and done in an endearing manner”.

Ms Palaszczuk said she stood by the investigation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josh Wonning

“The evidence strongly suggests staff members contributed to the culture of the workplace by participating in the use of nicknames,” it said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Queensland parliament on Tuesday she was unaware of the incident.

But she was quizzed again on Wednesday with Opposition Leader David Crisafulli asking if she would overrule the decision.

Ms Palaszczuk said the matter had been fully investigated.

“I’m advised the investigation followed usual processes,” she said.

“I can say staff involved have been formally advised of the investigation’s conclusion, briefed on the process and provided the necessary support.”

Ms Camm said the response was to victim blame the women. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

LNP Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm, on Tuesday accused the Palaszczuk government of “paying lip service to victims” with no action and said the Queensland Health response “has been one of victim blaming”.

“These women do not feel heard, these women do not feel that there’s any consequences for these gross actions,” she told parliament.

“Well, I believe these women, the Opposition believes these women, not one woman, not two, 11 women.”