The 89-page report, written by Dame Margaret Bazley, on the sexual harassment at law firm Russell McVeigh was released a year ago, and it made grim reading.
Dame Margaret Bazley yesterday released the report after interviewing 250 people to get to the bottom of allegations including that five clerks were sexually harassed over the summer of 2015/16.
The report found junior lawyers and other young staff were encouraged to “drink to excess” in that period, in a culture that had instances of crude, drunken and sexually inappropriate behaviour.
‘Encouraged to drink to excess’… now where have we come across that before?
Allegations included male employees taking part in sexual acts with female intern students who were part of the summer law-clerk programme. There were accusations of a culture of inappropriate sexual behaviour at the firm.
‘A culture of inappropriate sexual behaviour’… where have we heard that before?
Clark weighed in on the issue yesterday on Twitter, saying sexual assaults at one of New Zealand’s biggest law firms had “shocked the country”.
She said Bazley had delivered “a damning report” on the workplace practice and culture which made the behaviour possible.
“Question is: Why hasn’t #RussellMcVeagh’s board resigned? Fresh start is imperative,” Clark tweeted.
Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear… you know where I am going with this, don’t you?
Where else have we heard of a culture where young people are encouraged to drink to excess (most likely in order to lead to inappropriate sexual behaviour), and where was it last year that such behaviour resulted in a court case with the accused found (partly) guilty and is up for sentencing in November?
No. That was not at Russell McVeagh. That was at the Young Labour Summer Camp in 2018.
Where else have we heard recently about a culture of inappropriate sexual behaviour? Where men allegedly take part in sexual acts with female interns (or volunteers)?
No. Again, that was not Russell McVeagh. That was the New Zealand Labour Party.
At least the management at Russell McVeagh have tried to take some responsibility for the culture at their firm.
The firm responded to Clark through its Twitter account.
“Good morning – in her review, Dame Margaret said she had faith in our leadership, saying ‘the firm has accepted the recommendations set out in this report, and with the leadership of the current board, I am confident it is well-placed to tackle the challenges ahead.’ Thanks.”
A Newspaper (2018)
What is the leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party doing? Lying, obfuscating, brushing it under the carpet, hanging the victims out to dry…
… and Helen Clark thinks the leadership at Russell McVeagh should have resigned?
Well Helen I agree. They should resign and hang their heads in shame.
So should Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis, and everyone else who was told about the sexual assaults going on at various times within Labour party events and operations and did nothing other than to try to brush it all under the carpet.
But you didn’t mean that, did you, Helen? Of course, you didn’t. In your opinion, poor darling Jacinda has been ‘let down’ and is blameless. Ditto, everyone else in Labour. Those young Labour volunteers were obviously asking for it… unlike the interns at Russell McVeagh.
Take a good long hard look in the mirror, Helen Clark. There you will see someone who is hopelessly biased and hypocritical… as we all know that you are.
But thanks, Helen. Coming across that article just made my day.