Major Enquiry Into Workplace Bullying

• General News
• 27th June 2012

19 year old Brodie Panlock was subjected to the most humiliating bullying before throwing herself off a multi-story carpark.

Rae and Damien Panlock have campaigned with great courage and dignity for laws to protect Australian workers from the dreadful kind of treatment that led to the tragic death of their daughter Brodie.

Since Brodie's death in 2006 they have led an ongoing fight for tougher federal and state government laws against the scourge of bullying in the workplace.

The brave couple joined Prime Minister Julia Gillard and IR Minister Bill Shorten at a recent press conference where it was announced that a parliamentary enquiry would be held into the issue.

The PM said the enquiry would enable people to come forward, tell their stories, help us work out the prevalence of bullying in workplaces.

Brodie Panlock, 19, was subjected to the most humiliating bullying by her workmates at a Melbourne Cafe before she threw herself from a multi-storey car park.

She had been spat on, called ugly and, on one occasion, had fish oil poured all over her hair and clothes.

One tormentor even told her to take rat poision.

According to a report in the Melbourne Age, Brodie was no different to most teenagers her age. She was an enthusiastic youngster working for her future.

She was working to save money to travel and find a boy-friend to love - and be loved.

A friend described her as, "a buoyant, chirpie, compassionate, patient giving girl. She was a little ray of sunshine."

Four of her former workmates - if you can call them that - were charged in relation to her death and they all pleaded guilty.

Three employees received fines of between $10,000 and $45,000.

The cafe owner was fined $30,000 and his company $220,000.

Brodie Panlock's parents have called for changes to the law so courts can jail workplace bullies. We hope they succeed.