A leading New Zealand university has apologised to Labor member for Murrumbidgee Marisa Paterson over its handling of sexual harassment complaint made by her about a former staff member.
The Auckland University of Technology issued the apology to Dr Paterson, acknowledging its investigation into her complaint was not adequate.
Dr Paterson went public in New Zealand media in 2020 with allegations of sexual harassment perpetrated by a professor at the university.
This came after a formal complaint had been lodged with the Auckland University of Technology against the then pro-vice chancellor.
The complaint, which was lodged in August 2019, was not properly investigated despite the scale of evidence presented by Dr Paterson.
The complaint included evidence of two years of sexual harassment, stalking and bullying.
Prior to entering politics, Dr Paterson was the director of the Australian National University's Centre for Gambling Research.
The New Zealand academic was a leader in this field of research. Dr Paterson said she was made to feel her career was under threat.
"The behaviour went on for two years because I was so scared of making a complaint and, you know, he did threaten my career," she said.
"It's an incredibly challenging situation when you feel that your career is being threatened if you speak out against someone but what my situation highlights is that if workplaces have appropriate policies and procedures in place to deal with sexual harassment complaints then you don't end up in a situation like I did.
"He was pro-vice chancellor of a university and I was an early career researcher. I was also at the time single with three very young children on my own and my career and my income were critical to me."
Dr Paterson was supported by the Australian National University, which lodged the formal complaint on her behalf, but even this was not enough to get an investigation.
"I had two years of email and text message evidence ... I have actual written evidence of what happened to me," she said,
"I had ANU, Australia's leading national university supporting me, yet I couldn't even get an investigation into what had happened to me."
After Dr Paterson went public with her allegations the professor resigned from his position and the university conducted a high-level review into sexual harassment at the university.
That review found the complaints processes to resolve sexual harassment at the Auckland university were inadequate.
The report made 36 recommendations for improvement and the Auckland University of Technology has since developed a standalone sexual harassment policy, a new three-tier complaints process and training for all managers.
But Dr Paterson had to file proceedings with the Human Rights Review Tribunal after the university had waited months to inform her of its findings, which was a recommendation.
"Ultimately, I had to seek legal advice and I've been going through the human rights process in New Zealand for the last 18 months. It's not fair that an individual has to fight an institution like this," she said.
Dr Paterson said the apology and report were public recognition she had not received an appropriate or adequate response.
"I made the complaint in the beginning because I wanted harmful behaviour to stop and for the situation to be investigated," she said.
"My desperation in lodging a formal complaint was extreme - my career was everything to me and I knew that making a complaint would have significant implications."
Dr Paterson said what she went through could never happen again, saying she had suffered long-term distress from the process.
"In addition to the sexual harassment, the harm that is imposed on an individual to fight an institution for an adequate response, in public, is significant," she said.
"I have suffered long-term distress and implications from what I experienced and what I had to do to seek justice and resolution.
"My statement today is not one of forgiveness. This is a public step in leadership.
"This can never happen again."
Auckland University of Technology chancellor Rob Campbell offered an "unreserved" apology to Dr Paterson for its handling of her complaint.
"In particular, we recognise that our investigation into your complaint was not adequate and our communication with you throughout the process failed to recognise and reflect the very sensitive and serious nature of the issues and the impact on you," he said.
"We would also like to recognise your courage in coming forward, and to thank you for providing the opportunity for AUT to learn from this and initiate a process of culture change which we are confident will improve the experience of people learning and working in the university.
"We hope that our actions will be viewed as reflecting a survivor-centred approach and positive shift in institutional culture."
Dr Paterson, who was responsible for the introduction of the territory's consent laws, said she hoped to do more work in the ACT's sexual harassment and workplace safety space.
She said now her case had been finalised she would be able to do this.
"It has been something that I haven't sort of endeavoured into much in my role as an MLA yet because I've had this going on in the background, but now I feel I'm at a position where I can speak freely about what happened," Dr Paterson said.
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
We've made it a whole lot easier for you to have your say. Our new comment platform requires only one log-in to access articles and to join the discussion on The Canberra Times website. Find out how to register so you can enjoy civil, friendly and engaging discussions. See our moderation policy here.
