More Sexual Harassment Allegations Down Under

Sexual harassment allegations have resurfaced in the Queensland Fire Department, where more than a decade ago the same issues led to the appointment of a female police officer to serve as Fire Commissioner. The new allegations have prompted the Minister for Women, Shannon Fentima, to publicly encourage more female firefighters to come forward the blow the whistle on obnoxious behavior.

Several incidents are at the center of the controversy, including:

• A 2021 incident where Men rang a bell when “attractive” female recruits walked by so everyone “could have a look.” An investigation revealed that the bell-ringing was done primarily by one member, but several bystanders laughed at or dismissed the behavior until a formal complaint was made. Those involved in the bell ringing were not formally sanctioned. Instead, they received a talking to from Commissioner Stephen Smith. The lack of more serious punishment is being used by some as proof the organization is doing too little to address harassing behavior;
• Another 2021 incident where a male firefighter told a female firefighter: “next time we go for a drive, you should wear a bikini”.
• A female firefighter alleges that she was unable to obtain a female uniform and was told they were unisex. According to ABCNews, the firefighter said: “It’s a unisex uniform … well I have breasts, it doesn’t fit.”
• Following the LODD of a highly respected female firefighter, Izabella Nash, at a structure fire, a male firefighter reportedly said  her death was “why we shouldn’t have women in the job”.

Back in 2015, a former police officer (and later police commissioner), Katarina Carroll, was put in charge of the fire department with a mandate to address the problem. The incidents that led to her appointment included several covered here:

• Australian Firefighter Facing Criminal Charges Over Facebook Post
• Facebook Poll Prompts Sexual Harassment Investigation in Queensland
• Queensland Fire Services Culture of Shame

Minister Fentima is urging whistleblowers to come forward, advising them that Queensland has strong whistleblower protection laws.