Stand against bullying to honour Brodie Panlock’s memory
June 15, 2016 4:00pm
GRAHAM ASHTONHerald Sun
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Rae and Damian Panlock with a photo of their daughter Brodie.
Almost 60 people charged with bullying since Brodie’s Law
IT has been five years since Brodie’s Law was introduced, making serious bullying a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail; yet bullying remains a compelling issue in Victoria.

New statistics show that since June 2011, more than 140 offences have been recorded and 58 offenders have been charged.

As disturbing as that rate of offending is, my concern is that these figures could be only the tip of the iceberg.

The story of Brodie Panlock remains haunting to this day. She was only 19 when she ended her life in September 2006.

Described by family and friends as a determined young woman, buoyant, chirpy and compassionate, she was driven to suicide after enduring ongoing humiliating and intimidating bullying at her workplace in Hawthorn. It was an appalling tragedy. Thanks in large measure to the courage and determined campaigning of her parents, some good came from it.

Brodie’s Law was a watershed moment that sought to recognise the enormous harm that bullying can inflict, punish those responsible and send a message that it would no longer be tolerated. At Victoria Police, I am determined that we build on that important work, holding criminal offenders to account and using intervention orders to protect vulnerable people. But at a community level I fear there is still some way to go in eliminating this behaviour.




Damien and Rae Panlock, parents of Brodie Panlock holding a picture of their daughter.
I read with exasperation late last year that a large corporation had allowed a store worker to keep his job while serving six months in prison for the serious bullying of a manager.

It was described by the sentencing judge as an extended and systemic campaign of workplace bullying that made his victims lives “ … a living hell”.

What message did that send to the manager, her colleagues or the wider community?

That was one example. Throughout the community serious physical and psychological bullying is causing real and ongoing harm. It must be stopped.

We all have a responsibility to stamp out bullying and rally round victims wherever we see this occurring — be that in a workplace, the schoolyard or a sports club.

It extends to cyber bullying too. Social media and digital technology is changing the way people interact. Bullying, whether face to face or over the internet, is a crime.

We are the ones who can turn a blind eye; or we can choose to speak up and stand up to the bullies.

No one deserves to be threatened, humiliated or abused. As the case of Brodie Panlock demonstrates, employers and those in authority have a duty of care to ensure their workplaces, their schools and their clubs are places where the community can feel safe and supported.

So what should you do if you are the subject of bullying at work or at school or on the internet?


Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Picture: Alex Coppel
As the Take a Stand Campaign against Bullying outlines, you should:

TAKE action early and take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing.

KNOW what to do, make sure you are informed and keep a diary of the bullying behaviour.

GET support from someone you trust; it may be a supervisor or manager, teacher, GP, parent, health and safety representative or a local police officer.

DO your research; find out what bullying is and the behaviour that is associated with it.

IF it is bullying in the workplace, find out what policies your workplace has and what your workplace should be doing to deal with bullying.

IF the bullying is by phone or internet, advise your service provider.

REPORT to police all bullying that includes serious threats to your safety or life. And if you see bullying:

DON’T be a passive bystander — take action without putting your own health and wellbeing at risk.

DON’T take part in or encourage bullying.

SUPPORT the person who is being bullied and encourage them to ask for help.

REPORT bullying to someone in authority or someone you trust. If others know what is going on, report it as a group.

Let’s hope the fifth anniversary of Victoria’s anti-bullying legislation — or Brodie’s Law — will bring about real change in our community.

Anyone who needs support can call Lifeline (24 hours a day) on 13 11 14, visit the Lifeline website or contact local police

Graham Ashton is Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police