I am from Canberra and used to sit in Parliament listening and observing.  At the time I was developing a Children’s Circle Parliament which was non adversarial but focused on problem solving, collaboration, conflict resolution and solutions (possibilities).   I was very concerned with the lack of respect in this setting, and indeed it appeared at times to be bullying as words were used to hurt repeatedly.  I was very conscious of children watching from the public gallery.  I wonder what message they drew from the behaviour of people perceived as leaders.  Would children think bullying was okay and regard this as role modelling power (strength).  I hoped they would feel put off, as I did.

I would like to see the bullying legislation (OH&S legislation, Crimes Act, Victoria) applied in the Federal and State Goverment Question Time forums and in the workplace.  I understand they operate under parliamentary privilege but my understanding is that the reason for this is to enable the truth to come out that is of national importance.  Bullying is a mental health and criminal issue and in my view immunity should not be afforded in cases that are clearly bullying, as this stifles democracy and can destroy lives.  It is not dissimilar in my view to reporting abuse such as child abuse, we have an obligation to take action on behaviour that can cause suicide.  Still we haven’t understood the reality of bullying.  My hope is overtime more and more people speak up and we start to tackle this problem that is so entrenched in our culture.

Here is an article on the Australian Greens website about bullying.

http://greens.org.au/node/7076

We shouldn’t have to sacrifice our privacy to save a failing Prime Minister

Thursday, Feb 5th, 2015

Media Statement

Greens spokesperson for Communications

Senator for WA Scott Ludlam

February 5, 2015

This morning Tony Abbott attempted to sidetrack the public debate from his leadership meltdown by bullying Labor into supporting his mass-surveillance legislation, which will indiscriminately gather the private data of every Australian.

Greens communications spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam hoped no-one would be fooled by the clumsy attempt to look strong despite his weakness within his own party.

“The Prime Minister’s tactic of bullying the opposition and then leaking the letter to the media is a particularly graceless touch,” he said

“The Parliament’s committee system should be left alone to do its work. Setting a deadline for legislation to pass when the Parliament’s intelligence and senate standing committee is yet to report shows a complete lack of integrity.

“Abbott’s clumsy attempt to bully Shorten to enable ramming data retention laws through parliament should fool no one.

“We shouldn’t have to sacrifice our privacy to save a failing Prime Minister.”