SA-BEST Calls for Harassment Inquiry into Local Government

SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros will today speak on her motion in Parliament calling for an independent inquiry by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner into harassment, including sexual harassment, within South Australia's local government sector. 

The motion follows mounting concerns about the prevalence of inappropriate behaviour in councils and comes on the back of Connie’s previous successful motion for an Equal Opportunity-led inquiry into the legal profession. 

She will urge the Attorney-General to initiate the inquiry within three months of it passing and calls for the Commissioner to be properly resourced to carry it out. 

Ms Bonaros revealed her office had been contacted by current and former councillors, as well as community members, sharing harrowing stories of bullying, intimidation and harassment, many of whom have felt unable to speak out due to fear of legal or professional consequences. 

She shares one such example, describing a woman who felt unsafe after an inappropriate comment made by a council staff member at her home. “She didn’t lodge a complaint,” Ms Bonaros said. “She chose silence. But her story is far from isolated.” 

The inquiry, if supported, would examine: 

• The adequacy of current laws, policies, structures and complaint mechanisms
• What improvements are needed
• Any other relevant matters 

An inquiry by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner provides an opportunity to do just that. There’s precedent for this sort of inquiry in parliament – it works.  

Quotes attributable to the Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC:

“This isn’t just about elected members. Harassment exists between staff and councillors, and between staff and the public. It’s happening in places all over South Australia. It’s costing councils hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills, diverting resources from the job of serving communities. 

“It’s clear that existing complaint mechanisms aren’t enough. They respond after the damage is done. They don’t change the culture. We need to understand the scale and nature of the problem so we can fix it, systemically. 

“These inquiries provide safe spaces for people to speak. And they work. We owe it to our local government sector and the people within it to listen, learn and act.