A failure of leadership has been blamed for “significant cultural problems” within Australia’s Antarctic program as another investigation confirms instances of bullying, sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a culture of fear that stopped people speaking out.
The damning report by Leigh Russell, a former chief executive of Swimming Australia, supports the findings of an earlier investigation by Meredith Nash, an associate dean at the Australian National University, who told the government about workplace harms last year.
Russell was commissioned to conduct further investigations and spoke to about 300 current or former employees of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). She found a significant number of respondents did not believe the AAD was a psychologically safe place to work and that perpetrators faced few if any consequences for their actions.
The report and its findings, which have been accepted by the federal government, found 15% of respondents experienced some form of sexual harassment. About a third of these experiences occurred in the last 12 months. Almost 80% of those who experienced sexual harassment did not report it.
The most commonly reported instances of harassment were verbal remarks, unwanted touching or sexual advances. Others reported “gestures of a sexual nature, including exposure of any private parts”, and messages “of a sexual nature” sent online.
“I’ve been there in situations and seen things happen many times. I’m talking not just about a slap on the arse at the bar,” said one anonymous respondent, who was quoted in the final report.
One woman told the inquiry she was warned about the culture on remote Antarctic stations before her departure and told not to wear tight clothing, activewear or anything that might draw attention.
“Many colleagues have stories of sexual harassment and assault,” one respondent said. “But they don’t feel they can talk about it because it is such a small community; it would get back to them and they would work out who talked. And then they would never go down south again.”
The report also found 34% of respondents had experienced some form of bullying while working at the division. The vast majority did not report the bullying as they didn’t trust the complaint system or feared reprisal.
“What I witnessed with this bullying was appalling,” one anonymous respondent said. “I wouldn’t have been brave enough to speak to you if I didn’t witness this bullying. I feel I can’t stay silent any longer. It’s taking a huge toll.”
Another told Russell they did “not feel safe in the AAD and still do not feel safe in institutions aligned with the AAD”.
“The systems are appalling. I raised issues and was treated very badly as a result,” the respondent said.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said the Russell report confirms “systemic cultural issues at the Australian Antarctic Division” that are unacceptable.
“Let me be absolutely clear – there is no place for sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour in any workplace,” Plibersek said. “The AAD is no exception. Our remote stations in Antarctica are no exception.”
David Fredericks, the secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, said failures of leadership had “contributed to unacceptable workplace harm”.
The acknowledgment was one of several recommendations from the Russell report that have all been accepted.
“We commit to implementing, with our staff, all the findings of the Russell review and taking the action required,” Fredericks said. “This cannot continue. It is disappointing. It will change.”
AAD staff were briefed on the findings on Monday afternoon and support for current and former staff has been made available by the department.
