Ten staff members at Services Australia were dismissed in 2025 due to workplace sexual harassment, as the agency disclosed more than 80 complaints of alleged employee misconduct. This action highlights ongoing efforts to address inappropriate behaviour within the federal public service.
High Complaint Rates Across Major APS Agencies
Data provided to the Australian Public Service Commission in the 2025 APS Survey indicates that Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recorded the highest number of workplace sexual harassment complaints in the public service last year.
Approximately 88 Services Australia staff alleged sexual harassment between June 2024 and June 2025, resulting in 16 confirmed breaches of the APS code of conduct. As the largest federal government agency with over 35,200 employees, a spokesperson confirmed that ten staff are no longer employed there. They noted that some individuals could report anonymously or withdraw complaints.
"Services Australia does not tolerate sexual harassment, and there is no acceptable level of sexual harassment," the spokesperson stated. "While we take a zero-tolerance approach, we are the largest agency in the APS and these 88 individuals represent 0.25 per cent of the agency's staff."
Other Agencies Report Significant Incidents
The ATO, the second-largest APS agency, reported eight incidents of workplace sexual harassment after receiving 29 complaints from staff last year. A spokesperson did not specify how many cases were formally investigated but emphasised that the agency "took allegations seriously" and has protocols for managing and investigating them appropriately.
The NDIA reported 20 complaints of sexual harassment raised by staff in 2024-25, with two employees fired for breaching the APS code of conduct and one matter still ongoing. An NDIA spokesperson affirmed a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring reports are handled sensitively and confidentially.
Broader Public Service Context
Other departments also faced complaints. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received 14 reports containing allegations of sexual harassment in 2024-25, with ten cases managed internally and no terminations after four complaints were withdrawn. This follows a 2023 review that found widespread issues in its Antarctic division.
Additionally, 13 staff at the Department of Home Affairs and 11 at the Department of Defence filed sexual harassment complaints last year. The APS implemented a policy in 2023 for preventing and dealing with workplace sexual harassment, granting the Australian Human Rights Commission powers to impose legal obligations on agencies.
A Commission spokesperson noted that six reports of suspected non-compliance by five APS agencies have been investigated since new laws took effect, with two entities voluntarily providing information.
Union and Reform Perspectives
CPSU National Secretary Melissa Donnelly stressed that effective prevention requires "ongoing efforts" in implementing and monitoring prevention and response plans. She urged agencies to take a proactive approach in reviewing effectiveness with employees and unions.
These developments follow major workplace reforms introduced after former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins' Respect@Work report, which exposed widespread sexual harassment across Australian workplaces.
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