Abstract
We all know that, without buy-in from our leaders, we will not succeed in stamping out gender bias that leads to bullying, sexual assault and other violence against women and children. So, what do we find in Australia when we turn our lenses on leadership? Let’s start at the top.
Australia’s Men Problem
For years commentators have declared the Australian government and its base, the Liberal Party, have a ‘women problem’. But during 2021, it has become glaringly clear they have a men problem – a big one, that in turn is a massive problem for women trying to help run this country. Following allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape made by women staffers and parliamentarians, and the resulting standing down of Ministers including the Attorney-General, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was left scrambling with the fallout. Instead of dealing with the substance of issues raised by establishing a full and transparent investigation, Morrison declared his love and commitment for his daughters, wife and mother. Women expressed their anger in a series of protests, marches and analyses.
By contrast, when allegations of sexual misbehaviour were made against a former High Court judge, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel ordered a full inquiry that found the judge had likely sexually harassed or bullied at least six women. Girlie wonders if the PM fears a similar investigation might reveal what really happens to women at the centre of government?
In April 2021 Christine Holgate, former Australia Post CEO dealt another blow to Morrison when she appeared before a Senate Inquiry. Revelations she had given $20,000 worth of Cartier watches to successful executives saw Morrison bellowing ‘she can go’. Holgate described his behaviour as ‘one of the worst acts of bullying I’ve ever witnessed’. Perhaps Morrison should have heeded Michelle Grattan’s warning, ‘A wronged woman with a razor-sharp mind and meticulous records is a dangerous creature.’ (Michelle Grattan, ‘View from The Hill: Christine Holgate presents a compelling story of Morrison’s bullying’, The Conversation, 13 April 2021.)
In Victoria, Helen Szoke released her report on sexual harassment in the legal profession finding it was rife and the perpetrators were men at the top of the profession including judges and barristers. Her inquiry found a ‘stunning’ lack of process that failed to protect from sexual harassment by top law officers, and recommended changes to the way judges are appointed and policed. (Helen Szoke, ‘Review of sexual harassment in Victorian Courts and VCAT’, March 2021.)
In response Victoria’s Chief Justice said, ‘Sexual harassment is harmful, unlawful and wrong. It goes against everything our justice system is built on. I want to make it clear we will not put up with any form of wrongful conduct in our courts or VCAT. There will be zero tolerance for sexual harassment.’
Listen and learn, Prime Minister.
There is Hope
The plethora of revelations of violence against women and children prompted Blair Williams of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, ANU, to write, ‘Many women are understandably feeling traumatised, triggered, overwhelmed and exhausted. And it would be easy to think it is all bad news and nothing is changing.’ (‘Now for some better news: 9 Australians fighting for gender equality and making a difference’, The Conversation, 19 April 2021.)
She then featured the achievements of nine Australian women whose first-hand experiences of violence have spurred them into action that is making a difference. She included some well-known and others less so.
Williams included the experiences of Indigenous women who have exposed ‘the lack of public concern and national planning about the violence against First Nations women.’ Indigenous people are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence than a non-Indigenous adult.
And as Australia marks 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the massive over-representation of Indigenous women in the prison population remains a ‘national shame.’