Regional Reports
Cairns |
Townsville | Rockhampton
Cairns
The Far North Queensland regional office is looking forward to 1998
and beyond.
The establishment of the office in Cairns followed the expiry
of the joint agreement between the State and Federal Attorney-Generals
in December 1996. After a trial period of shared location with
the Dispute Resolution Centre in the Magistrate’s Court building,
the office has moved into new premises at McLeod Chambers at 78
Spence Street. The purple, green and yellow colour scheme of the
exterior of our new building is fresh, bright and unique: we feel
it reflects the approach of our small and energetic team.
Rosemary
Anderson is our conciliator. Rosemary was formerly a personnel
officer with the Department of Employment, Vocational Education,
Training & Industrial Relations and has been a conciliator
with the Commission for two years. We are drawing upon her experience
in complaint handling and community education.
Louise de Busch has joined us from her work with the Queensland
Police, the Cape York Land Council, and the North Queensland Land
Council. Louise brings fine administrative skills to the office.
Jim Brooks, formerly Regional Director of the joint Commissions’
North Queensland office, took up the position of Regional Director
after an 18 month stint as Secretary of the Stolen Children’s
Inquiry.
During the second half of 1997 the team tackled a backlog of
complaints, reducing numbers to 35 over a four month period. Thorough
investigation was undertaken, clear advice was given to all parties
about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, and options
for resolution were explored at the earliest opportunity. Response
from practitioners and parties has been good to date. We have
surveyed all parties to complaints over the last two years for
their views about our processes. Feedback is now sought as a matter
of course as complaints are closed.
The office will continue to provide a fair and efficient complaint
handling process. There are also plans to undertake community
education and to perform training - particularly for community
groups - about the Act and the principles which underlie it.
Late last year the Acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Moira
Scollay and Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Karen Walters jointly
launched an information video for indigenous communities titled
"Which Way". That was a proud moment for the FNQ office.
The idea for the video came from consultation with indigenous
people conducted in Far North Queensland, and the video was produced
using local actors and scenarios. The initial response to the
video has been very strong. Reaction has indicated a need for
workplace training on sexual harassment in particular.
This office looks forward to the challenge of delivering an effective
human rights enforcement service to a culturally diverse community
in a region of 500,000 square kilometres - with fewer staff than
your average sandwich shop!
Townsville
Since the opening of the Townsville office in December 1996,
an average of 70 telephone enquiries a month have been received,
and approximately 15 complaints per month are being handled.
The Townsville office services an area from Proserpine in the
south, Tully in the north, the border with the Northern Territory
in the west, and the Palm Island area in the east. Palm Island
itself has a 98% indigenous population, while Mount Isa boasts
a population representing at least 55 different nationalities.
With the diversity of the region, the office has emphasised its
role in training and public relations and has conducted sessions
for various groups including:
- mining companies
- engineering companies
- education employees
- sugar refineries
- indigenous groups
- disability groups
- gay and lesbian groups
- community groups.
Staff have also ensured a high profile for the Commission by
using opportunities to operate stalls and displays in both Townsville
and outlying areas.
Rockhampton
The Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Karen Walters, paid a hectic
and highly successful visit to the Rockhampton office in October
1997.
Acting Regional Director, Gerry Neal, arranged an informal function
to give the public the opportunity to ‘meet the Commissioner’.
More than 50 people attended, requiring a good co-operative effort
by all concerned as they crowded into the Rockhampton office conference
room (and the reception area, and the kitchen). There was excellent
representation from both government and private sectors.
A highlight of the afternoon was the formal greeting to Karen
by Joyce Rutherford, an elder of the Darumbal Tribe, the traditional
owners of the Rockhampton area.
The Commissioner also spoke on anti-discrimination legislation
at a session of the Central Queensland Law Association annual
conference, which was held north of Yeppoon.
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