November 28, 2018
Crisis time as bullying proble looms
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is concerned a review of bullying in parliament could throw up some unexpected consequences.
His party was not consulted by Speaker Trevor Mallard, who appointed Debbie Francis to conduct an independent review into whether staff employed or engaged since October 2014 have been bullied or harassed.
Ms Francis has worked on similar reviews at organisations such as the New Zealand Defense Force.
Mr Peters says parliament is not always a normal workplace.
"In politics there are events of crisis. You hear about some disaster that's just happened you have to act with speed and if people don't act with the speed required, emotions can get high. Now is that bulling or having the appropriate response? So it's very difficult to know exactly where this is going," he says.
Mr Peters says society should be more concerned about the level of bullying on social media, particularly among children and young people.
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