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January 4, 2025
The Department of Home Affairs received the highest number of workers' compensation claims last financial year and shared the No.1 position for the most bullying, harassment and discrimination complaints in a four-month period, as fewer employees express confidence to speak up and raise concerns about inappropriate behaviour.
The Weekend Australian's analysis of Senate estimates questions on notice reveals which federal departments face the greatest cultural challenges, with Home Affairs, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and Department of Veterans' Affairs all recording 42 bullying, harassment and discrimination allegations between February 15 and June 21.
Home Affairs also had 139 workers' comp claims lodged in 2023-24, 90 more than DCCEEW, which received 49, while DVA was third with 35 complaints. Of the 139 Home Affairs claims, 90 were accepted by Comcare; 47 were for physical harm and 21 were psychological in nature. Forty-nine claims were rejected.
The department, a super ministry created by Malcolm Turnbull for Peter Dutton that has been hollowed out since Labor came to power, has undergone a year of turmoil and leadership change after former boss Mike Pezzullo was sacked following the emergence of hundreds of text messages with Liberal powerbroker Scott Briggs, and replaced by Stephanie Foster.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said it was no surprise morale "remains at rock bottom" at the department, despite the Albanese government's "talk of 'cultural reform' ".
"The department has had its responsibilities seriously diminished by Labor and poor policy choices by its ministers have brought significant scrutiny.
Under a Dutton Coalition government, Home Affairs will be restored to its rightful place as the pre-eminent domestic national security policy and operations portfolio," Senator Paterson said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke declined to comment but a departmental spokesman said the number of compensation claims was driven in part by the department's operational environment.
"We work closely with Comcare to resolve individual compensation claims, and to identify any systemic issues. We have a welldeveloped early intervention program and a range of services available to staff to manage proactively both physical and mental health," the spokesman said.
"Home Affairs is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all staff. We take seriously any claims of bullying, harassment and discrimination, and work with affected staff to resolve issues quickly and fairly. We have a range of initiatives in place or under development to educate and support staff and managers to minimise the instance of such behaviours."
Each year public service employees fill out a census survey providing feedback on how they think their agency and supervisors are faring.
The Home Affairs spokesman conceded the fact 65 per cent of staff felt confident to "speak up and raise concerns of inappropriate behaviour" a 10 per cent decrease from the previous year was "of course a concern".
"(It) is at odds with our lived experience over the course of the year, when many people have used the various mechanisms we have in place to do just that," he said. "We are working with staff to understand what barriers remain and how we can fix them.
"Home Affairs is a great place to work the census also told us that 70 per cent of employees are proud to work in Home Affairs, 80 per cent believe strongly in our purpose and 89 per cent are happy to go the 'extra mile'."
Of the climate change and energy department's 49 workers' compensation claims, 27 were successful and four were rejected.
Fourteen of the DVA's 35 claims were successful, 12 were rejected, six withdrawn and three were still to be determined when the department submitted its answer to independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie.
"The department seeks to create a safe, healthy and respectful workplace for all staff," a DCCEEW spokeswoman said.
"Over the last year, we have taken significant steps including policy updates, training on respectful workplaces, bystander training, and bullying and harassment awareness sessions. An increase in reporting of inappropriate workplace behaviours is an encouraging sign of a culture where it is safe for staff to call out and report inappropriate workplace behaviour."
A DVA spokesman noted the department had grown more than 45 per cent in the past two years following "increased government investment to improve delivery, including in line with recommendations in the interim report of the royal commission".
"Census results reported 73 per cent overall employee engagement (on par with the Australian Public Service), and 86 per cent of respondents reporting they are committed to the department's goals," he said.
"This commitment and dedication has been consistently demonstrated over the past 18 months, with the department meeting significant performance objectives, including clearing the backlog of unallocated compensation claims identified by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide." 'We are working with staff to understand what barriers remain and how we can fix them' Home Affairs department spokesman
