Sex harassment common in Australian Federal Police

Almost half of the women working for Australia’s national police force say they have been sexually harassed on the job, according to a report released on Monday.

The review of the workplace culture of the Australian Federal Police also found that more than 60 percent of the staff — men and women — reported being bullied.

“In the areas of sexual harassment and bullying, urgent action is required,” said the report’s author, former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

A survey conducted for the report found that 46 percent of women and 20 percent of men said they had been sexually harassed in the workplace in the past five years.

“These percentages are almost double the national average,” it said.

Additionally, the report said, “Sixty-two percent of men and 66 percent of women reported that they have been bullied in the workplace in the last five years.”

The document, “Cultural Change: Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Australian

46 percent of women said they had been sexually harassed in the workplace in the last five years, and 20 percent of men said they also had been.

Federal Police”, also criticized the process for reporting complaints.

Some police workers thought that if they reported harassment, it would hurt their careers or they would be ostracized or victimized as a result, while others said complaints could take too long to resolve and questioned their confidentiality.

Women across the Australian Federal Police also reported difficulties in having to “fit in” to a male-dominated culture, including having to “prove themselves”.

“We have certainly made progress, but I still think there is a culture of sexual harassment and bullying,” one female participant told the survey.

In releasing the report, AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin conceded that “things must change” and apologized to staff members who had been subjected to what he called unacceptable behavior.