Frankston City Council improves its approach to workplace sexual harassment

Published on 10 December 2020

Frankston City Council Mayor, Kris Bolam, and CEO, Phil Cantillon, have welcomed the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report, Sexual Harassment in Local Government, tabled yesterday (Wednesday 9 December 2020).

Mr Cantillon said Frankston City and four other Councils were audited by VAGO in June this year and given the opportunity to respond to the Auditor General’s recommendations.

“We carefully considered each of the Auditor-General’s 11 recommendations and have made tangible changes to our policies and procedures to ensure the best environment for preventing and reporting sexual harassment,” Mr Cantillon said.

Cr Bolam echoed this sentiment, saying any opportunity to prevent the likelihood of sexual harassment taking place was welcome.

“As an organisation, we are committed to the wellbeing of our staff and Councillors. Earlier this year, we conducted a staff survey asking all employees if they agreed their workplace was free from sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination; 89 per cent agreed. This is a positive outcome which we are looking forward to building on.”

The Mayor said sexual harassment had no place in local government or any workplace.

“It is encouraging that local government is being critiqued and held to account on such an important issue,” he added.

In response to the Auditor-General’s recommendations, Frankston City Council:

- has reviewed and updated its sexual harassment policy

- has developed a mandatory training program for all staff and Councillors

- is developing protocols for managing sexual harassment by members of the public

- has engaged an external anonymous reporting service for people who may feel uncomfortable reporting

“We welcome VAGO’s regular review of our progress,” Mr Cantillon said.