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Senior official charged with urinating on staff ‘at work Christmas party’ – as official remains speechless while grilling about workplace culture
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority employee resigned
- Senior male manager allegedly peed on colleagues ‘privately’
- APVMA CEO Lisa Croft was annoyed by the allegations in Senate estimates
- She said she was aware of the incident but no official complaint had been filed
- Agriculture Secretary Murray Watt said he would urgently request information from dept
A senior male staff member at a government agency resigned after allegedly urinating on colleagues, as questions are being raised about whether this happened at the Christmas party at work.
The unnamed manager of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is accused of ‘private’ urinating on staff.
APVMA chief executive Lisa Croft said she was aware of the incident but denied it happened during a work function, after it was suggested it had taken place at the agency’s Christmas party last year.
Ms Croft was grievous about the incident during Senate estimates on Tuesday, with Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson asking if she was aware of the allegations.
“I don’t know it in that context, not at a Christmas party,” said Mrs Croft.
When asked if she knew if it happened during a work function, the CEO took a long eight-second pause.
“Um, I’m aware of an incident that happened in private, not on a work function,” she said.
Ms Croft said the matter had been referred to her directly by employees but no official complaint had been made.
Mr Whish-Wilson said he had heard that three female colleagues had filed three complaints against the male employee.
When Ms Croft was asked if she was aware of any complaints, she said she had not heard anything about any issues related to sexual harassment by the male employee.
The chief executive of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Lisa Croft said she had been made aware of the incident but no official complaint had been lodged.
The chief executive took another long pause when asked why the accusation of urinating would be raised against her if it was in a personal capacity.
“I understand that those directly involved wanted me to be informed of the matter, no official complaint has been made to me,” she said.
Agriculture Secretary Murray Watt said it was the first time he had heard of the “very disturbing” allegations and that he would urgently request a briefing from his ministry.
The APVMA moved from Canberra to Armidale in regional NSW in 2019.
Senator Whish-Wilson had asked Ms. Croft about her agency’s work culture when the allegation was brought up.
“No official complaint has been made, but they felt they should discuss it with you as CEO. Sounds like a pretty serious matter if they have to discuss the matter directly with you,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
Agriculture Secretary Murray Watt said it was the first time he had heard of the “very disturbing” allegations and that he would urgently request a briefing from his ministry.
The executive staff member resigned after the matter was raised with the HR team.
Ms Croft said she had not spoken to her colleague in question about the incident before he resigned.
“There have been discussions about what could possibly be done about the matter, and the employee resigned soon after,” she said at the hearing.
Senator Whish-Wilson said he would submit further questions to the authority.