The public service only protect 'their own' if employees put their heads down and do not speak up or protest when 'wronged' themselves, or do not stand up for another person or situation that requires addressing, in some situations ranging from theft, fraud, unethical behaviour to bullying.

I learned the hard way twice over 17 years.

It cost me two years on the first occasion as a contractor during 1998 and 1999 making one comment about a re-knowned snake in the grass who cost a great deal of misery to victims over many years in addition to deliberate incompetence and blame gaming to many staff members [lies stated to new gullible Managers].

The second occasion during 2006 standing up to another re-knowned previous Offendor who targeted the lower tiered employed public servants of a certain department.

Some of these victims were younger people, some middle aged and of both genders.

Many perpetrators do not discriminate with age or gender.

As I informed Belly this year, I would have loved being a Union Rep standing up for the rights of others; however I have done this quietly on quite a few occasions for people it has affected significantly; again this year for a Hairdressing girlfriend. After hours upon hours of admin prep work, most victims give in, drop their complaint [when the public service drag the cases out], trying to get on with their lives yet most sadly, dealing with the after affects/side affects.

As I did during 2006.

Mmmmmm....Merry Christmas to those who sat on the sidelines and did nothing for my incident four years ago...experiences make a victim stronger and time heals for most people.

By the way I should in all fairness state, that there are quite a few departments who do effectively and fairly deal with corruption inside their own departments along with effective management of bullying and following through on allegations. Two departments a few years ago not only addressed, followed through and dealt with crime reported, they allowed the media and in so doing, put the cases up for public awareness.

When people state 'the public service'; just realise that not all departments secretaries and general managers turn a blind eye to allegations or claims made. There are many public servants I have worked with over many years who possess morals and values and the courage to investigate and fully follow through on misconduct using external staff, agencies and the police.

The cases I mentioned were with one reknowned department that many people have complained about over the years. To date, I doubt if their Secretary, heirachy, procedures, human resource management staff and practices have changed at all.

Isn't it interesting that no one has a positive tale to tell about the way our senior servants manage complaints made to them?

I hand-delivered a complaint to the CSA over 4 months ago, addressed to Geoff Mutton, the Chief Operating Officer. The complaint was to do with an incident in which I was threatened by one of his staff with having a false entry made on my file if I did not "cooperate". Of course, I immediately severed the connection and the false entry was duly made and still remains on the file, despite my having provided evidence that it is false and registering a complaint about the threat via email within 30 seconds of hanging up

I have still not received any response to my complaint, which is a serious matter involving a breach of the Crimes Act - "Using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence".

I do not believe that Mr Mutton's lack of response is appropriate for such a serious offence. In fact, I believe Mr Mutton is very well aware that his staff routinely breach the Crimes Act in this way and is involved in an active cover-up of the breaches. That in itself is a breach of his responsibilities under the Public Service Act and should be enough for his boss, Phillippa Godwin, to sack him.

Anyone like to take a bet on that happening?

we are unique
As you write, it is important and fair to acknowledge there are also good people in the APS who do follow up on complaints (or at least try). It is easy to become cynical after a time and lump all public servants and departments in the same impotent basket, which is equally unfair.

One high profile department was in the news a while back in regard to the way management negotiated its pay reviews using threats to block back dating of a pay rise to ensure everyone signed off on the new agreement. This is common. One department I worked (not the whistleblowing one) was known throughout to be one of the worst for allowing bullying to run rampant and unchecked. And where attitudes to duty of care and service delivery is limited to purely an economic rationalist approach. There was absolutely no interest in actually delivering the 'service' and everything was done to distort the figures and concerns raised about staff shortages were diminished and demeaned.

Suze I have had nurses, doctors, surgeons etc treat me horribly – lied to direct questions, cause me pain and a lot of distress. Just about everyone I know has a story about hospital mess ups and the mean staff.

Nope it wont happen Anti. Same with the government department I deal with, they review their policies only – which is often a surprise when you were told that there wasn’t an existing policy to begin with. Maybe they reviewed their non-existent policy policy.

Nothing changes and it is quickly learnt how useless lodging complaints are, which I guess they depend on in government to keep the public quiet.

And like Jullibean and Winner, if you work for who you make a complaint about you quickly learn that payback’s a bitch with a long memory. They casually will destroy your life, career, etc etc.

Pelican, you have perhaps missed my second post stating in all fairness every Department differs and there are staff who do follow through on allegations. Refer above Antiseptic's post.