Bullying probe into Daniel Andrews Covid officer

An Andrews government cabinet adviser has been investigated for allegedly bullying Covid call centre staff and other workers.

People outside Melbourne’s Flinders Street station on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

An Andrews government cabinet adviser has been investigated for allegedly bullying Covid call centre staff and other workers following claims he boasted about making a female colleague cry and told staff he could “f..king kill somebody”.

The Australian can reveal that a ­Department of Health investi­gation was ordered into the conduct of the senior bureaucrat during last year’s second wave and lockdown, after staff complained about his behaviour.

The complaints stem from the bureaucrat’s role within the Covid-19 Policy, Strategy and Information Branch, which included a call centre and was charged with the key job of advising the government and public on the impact of lockdown restrictions.

The internal probe was launched after complaints made to health chiefs in March this year detailing multiple complaints of code of conduct breaches.

Among allegations from staff were that the senior bureaucrat:
● Admitted to colleagues that he had made a team member cry at work and boasted that he didn’t ­regret this;
● Threatened to throw a laptop through a window and “f..king kill somebody”;
● Threatened to “f..king fire everybody”;
● Yelled at managers only to then ring back later and apologise for his behaviour.

The unit was charged with advising the public about the lockdown rules and what impact they had on professional and personal activities. It would also advise the government about legal issues surrounding the restrictions.

In response to detailed questions from The Australian, the department failed to address the substance of the staff complaints or the outcome of the investi­gation, instead issuing a general comment about workplace safety.

“The Department of Health is dedicated to promoting a positive culture among all employees and everyone is entitled to perform their jobs in a safe, respectful and professional environment,” a spokesman said. “It would be in­appropriate to comment on individual allegations.”

It said it took all complaints seriously and staff could have confidence to report inappropriate behaviour.

Staff within the unit became increasingly concerned about the erratic behaviour of the senior bureaucrat – whom The Australian has decided not to identify at this stage – and feared it was undermining its performance at the height of the second wave and four-month lockdown.

By last October, staff felt that the stress of dealing with the pandemic and regularly working 12-hour days was being exacerbated by the bureaucrat’s reaction to operational issues raised with him.

Some staff believe senior managers within the then Department of Health and Human Services were aware of his allegedly volatile behaviour but failed to act until they were left with no option because of the complaints.

The staff complaints about bullying is the latest revelation to raise questions about the government’s frontline response to the pandemic.

Separately last month, The Australian revealed senior infection prevention and control managers at the quarantine hotel program, Matiu Bush and Giulietta Pontivivo, had been accused of breaching protocols.

Mr Bush was suspended and is the subject of an investigation while Ms Pontivivo has resigned.

The departmental probe into Mr Bush has been expanded to include fresh claims he employed two fitness trainers from a gym he promoted to $100,000-a-year jobs in the hotel program.

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