Taxpayers fork out about $40 million in public servant workplace harassment payouts

New figures reveal a growing problem in government workplaces, with a whopping sum of tax`payer money used to pay out mistreated employees.

About $40 million of South Australian taxpayer funds have been spent on public servant workplace harassment payouts over the past five years.

The figures — obtained by political party SA-BEST and released by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment — showed 841 public servants received payouts, including 24 for sexual harassment between 2015 to 2020.

According to the data, the Education Department reported the most harassment cases, totalling 253 which equated to almost $13 million over the five-year period.

Of that total, 10 of those claims were for sexual harassment with the payout totalling $374,781. This averages to $29,211.65 per person.

SA Health had the second highest number of sexual harassment cases, with seven claims made. Within the department, a total of 227 workplace harassment claims were made.

This was followed by SA Police with 72 cases, the Human Services Department with 61 and the Corrections Department with 44 claims.

The figures also suggested that $701,079 was spent on the 24 sexual harassment claims across the entire state government.

SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo asked Treasurer Rob Lucas (pictured) to investigate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo said he had asked the Treasurer Rob Lucas to investigate the matter.

“These statistics are extremely disturbing and further proof much more needs to be done to stamp out all forms of harassment in the workplace,” he said.

“They also confirm what SA-BEST has long suspected and feared – that workplace bullying and harassment is rife in the Department for Education.

“One of my concerns is that if principals and teachers are harassing their own, what chance have we of teaching our children about the insidious nature of harassment and the damage it can cause.”

Fellow MLC Connie Bonaros said all South Australians should be alarmed by the statistics.

“If the government was doing more to tackle harassment and bullying of public servants, that money could be redirected to fund critical public health services and other crucial support services cut by this heartless government,” she said.

“It’s a sad indictment on the current workplace harassment policies of this government and reinforces the fact it has to do more to address to scourge of harassment in the public sector.”

SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros said the state government could be using the money for crucial support services. Picture: Mark Brake

The issue was discussed in state parliament last week where Treasurer Rob Lucas said no MP supported workplace harassment or bullying.

He said the Commissioner was working with department chief executives to try and provide comprehensive support and training to better manage workplace disputes and prevent bullying and harassment.

“The sad fact of life is that bullying and/or harassment occurs in every workplace type throughout not only the state but throughout the nation,” Mr Lucas said.

“My department, as with all other departments, can do much better.

He said there was an ongoing challenge in managing differences of opinion and disputes within workplaces and claimed some cases may not be bullying, but could instead be managing poor performance that was construed as bullying and harassment.