Minister Barr: Aggression or violence: it’s not part of the job
- Written by ACT Government
Released 13/07/2023
Workplace violence is not acceptable in any workplace, including ACT Public Service workplaces.
When you go to work, you want to know you’ll be safe doing your job. This is the same for the people who work in the ACT Public Service Workplace violence is never okay.
Workplace violence shouldn’t be part of anyone’s experience, especially when doing the work that helps make our city run smoothly. Community members being violent or abusive to workers is not acceptable.
Ensuring all our workplaces are safe for everyone is a priority. That means acknowledging workplace violence can happen, educating ourselves about it and taking steps to ensure we don’t contribute to it.
Violence and abuse are not ‘part of the job’. The ACT Government is committed to providing a safe workplace and service experience for the community.
Workplace violence is not only physical violence. It is any action, incident or behaviour that departs from reasonable conduct in which a person is assaulted, threatened, harmed or injured when doing their job.
Examples of workplace violence in the ACT Public Service include:
- Health care, emergency services and housing services workers being physically assaulted by consumers
- Parking inspectors, bus drivers and shopfront workers experiencing verbal abuse
- Teachers being harassed online by students and/or parents
The ACT Government provides information and support to all its staff to ensure they know how to report workplace violence if they experience it.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
No matter what job you do in our community, it should be free from workplace violence.
This includes when accessing an ACT Government service – whether that’s visiting a library, catching public transport, going to Access Canberra or receiving care at a Walk-in Centre.
Every person working in the ACT Public Service is also a member of our community. They show up when we need them.
If you experience workplace violence in the course of your job, please speak up - report it to your employer, WorkSafe ACT or the police and access the support services available to you.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
