MARK LATHAM: Snowflake generation needs to harden up because they bring Australia down

Something strange is happening in Australian workplaces – even here in the NSW Parliament on Macquarie Street.

It is now classified as ‘bullying’ to tell an employee their work is not up to scratch and they need to improve. It is now regarded as ‘harassment’ for a boss to lose their temper and blow up in reaction to staff incompetence.

It is now so touchy-feely that no staff meetings can be held before 10am, when everyone has completed their ‘carer responsibilities’ for the morning.

The younger generation has responded to these entitlements with a ‘you can’t talk to me like that’ view of their employer.

Consultants are everywhere conducting workplace reviews that encourage and enable staff to be snowflakes, perpetually offended, upset and complaining.

In the NSW Parliament, the recent Workplace Review has cost a small fortune in taxpayers’ money, even though, in establishing the process, no specific problems were identified in our building.

Emails were sent to staff in our One Nation office but none saw the need to participate in the consultant’s review. 

Ironically, one received so many emails he felt bullied to participate.

I thought the review was a waste of money with an entirely predictable pre-scripted outcome, so I never agreed to be interviewed. I’m interested in solving real problems in NSW, not ones invented by Snowflake Lefties.

Every MP should be responsible for their own office and staff – that is why we elected them. Instead, the new trend is to establish special Complaints Officers (as they now have in Macquarie Street) to add to the culture of complaint and dobbing.

The Parliamentary Workplace Review is being released on Friday, and undoubtedly it will make findings of a ‘toxic culture’ and recommend that everyone go on training courses (run by other consultants at further taxpayer expense).

I don’t see it myself.

Before getting into parliament, I worked as a staffer for two fairly volatile politicians: Bob Carr and Gough Whitlam.

Before getting into parliament, Mark Latham worked as a staffer for former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam (pictured in 1972 with singer Little Pattie)

Mark Latham also worked alongside Bob Carr (pictured at the Sydney Opera House with wife Helena in 2019)

Gough would explode like a volcano, his body shaking, his teeth grinding with anger. But a few minutes later he would come around to my desk and say, ‘What are you working on now, comrade?’ and give me a friendly hug.

I took this to be his way of letting off steam. Busy people in public life who work hard, come under pressure and expect perfection in their work standards, are likely to go off when things go wrong.

Mr Latham says young workers need to harden up (stock image)

I never thought for a moment Whitlam was disrespecting or harassing me. A mature, sensible worker would immediately know that.

Ultimately, taking offence is a choice, and I chose never to be offended.

I recommend this for the younger Snowflake Generation: to take a teaspoon of cement and harden up.

Most of all, I worry that the woke ‘respect at work’ agenda is diminishing our standards and performance as a nation.

If incompetent staff are allowed to survive without anyone being allowed to point out their failings, then many more businesses are going to go broke, many more governments are going to mess up public policy and many more public agencies are going to be out-of-touch and incapable of meeting community needs.

Mr Latham refused to partake in a workplace review in the NSW Parliament. Pictured is Premier Dominic Perrottet in Parliament

Serious problems like sexual harassment and violence are already criminal offences and workers should go to the police if this occurs.

Otherwise, the ‘hurt feelings’ syndrome is dragging down our once strong and resilient country. Words have become as dangerous as weapons.

There was a time when we ridiculed the sooky snowflakes overseas. Now Australian workplaces are joining them.

Mark Latham is the NSW leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and is a former Labor Party leader.