Misuse of power highlighted

The public service is ‘‘particularly susceptible’’ to the misuse of power for sexual gain and Parliament needs to step in to improve the situation, a petitioner says.

Carrie Buckmaster will deliver her petition to Labour MP Louisa Wall today. It calls for Parliament to inquire how the public service addresses sexual harm by public servants on members of the public.

It suggests Parliament could consider a new position or body to drive a better response to allegations of wrongdoing.

Buckmaster, a business analyst, had worked in the public service for about 20 years and said victims needed safe ways to raise allegations and receive help. ‘‘I have seen complaints of harm haven’t always been handled in the best way.’’ There was prioritisation of organisations’ reputation over addressing the harm in a transparent and accountable way, and that needed to change.

One of the most important statistics that needed to be counted and reported was complainants’ satisfaction with how their complaint was managed, she said.

She was a proud public servant and wanted the sector to be better. She had raised the issue internally but had been ‘‘unable to get traction’’.

The petition was the result of needing an external ‘‘political push’’.

‘‘I saw somebody had to step up and do something.’’

People who interacted regularly with the public service tended to be vulnerable people, such as children, disabled people and prisoners.

‘‘There is a power dynamic. None of this is rocket science – most people probably assume it is already happening.’’

She said it was currently unclear who was responsible for ensuring complaints were well dealt with across the public service, and while some organisations might be doing it well, it was not consistent.

‘‘And also, if you have been harmed by that organisation, how comfortable do you feel going back to that organisation [to complain]?’’

Employment lawyer and 2018 Wellingtonian of the Year Steph Dyhrberg has thrown her support behind the petition.

‘‘People in the public sector are working hard to lift delivery and behavioural standards but the approaches to preventing sexual harassment and exploitation need to be rethought.

‘‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure, so Carrie’s petition seeks to start an important conversation about what accountability should look like.’’

Wall said she supported the petition’s kaupapa.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF Carrie Buckmaster is a long-time public servant who wants to see better reporting and more transparency around sexual abuse in the public service.