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The Forum > Article Comments > The lives of far too many Australians are blighted by violence, harassment and bullying > Comments

The lives of far too many Australians are blighted by violence, harassment and bullying : Comments

By Catherine Branson, published 13/12/2010

Tackling violence, harassment and bullying will be a key priority for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

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It is difficult to speak out about abuses of authority in the forms of bullying or harassment. Often complainants are targeted with suspicion or seen as malcontents in a workplace setting (as is the current state in many government departments despite the rhetoric about Codes of Conduct).

In one department I worked in a senior manager was eventually chastised about his behaviour by the Deputy Secretary but only after other managers approached HR and the executive. When lower level staff raised concerns about service delivery and bullying behaviours they were basically told they were a bunch of whingers and were ignored.

The key is vigilance in reporting but how do you change a culture of apathy when it comes to 'getting involved'? The situation in relation to children has improved in modern times. In the past people were incredulous when confronted with an accusation of someone in authority (maybe a respected community member) being accused of child abuse as evidenced in religious institutions.

Bullying in the workplace has decreased overall. A raised awareness of bullying does not make it more prevalent it only appears so. This does not mean we should not remain vigilant only that it should be recognised that on many fronts things have improved.

Violence ie. street violence seems to have incrased, and with longer drinking hours the problem in bigger cities has increased.

In some ways we have become a society which knows all it's rights but none of it's responsibilities and we have become namby pamby 'rights' shouting wimps with any mention of solutions that might reduce violence such as reduced drinking hours.
Posted by pelican, Monday, 20 December 2010 9:56:02 PM
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