A “Hotties List” ranking junior women by attractiveness was reportedly circulated within the male-dominated graduate program at the Infrastructure Department.
Key points:
- The list reportedly ranked women in the department’s graduate program by attractiveness
- An external investigation was unable to substantiate its existence
- The secretary did not inform the minister when he was made aware of the claims
Concerns about a list were first raised with the department in March this year, and a formal complaint was made in May.
Independent investigators were unable to substantiate whether or not the list, which related to the current cohort of 35 graduates — including post-graduate and PhD holders — existed.
This year’s graduate program is two-thirds male and mostly younger than 30.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie used Senate estimates to question the department about the alleged list, which she described as belonging in the ’80s.
“The allegations of this type of behaviour would be incredibly concerning for the one-third of women in the graduate program being so depicted,” Senator McKenzie said.
Infrastructure Department secretary Jim Betts told Senate estimates he was disgusted when he heard the complaint.
“Allegations that were made within our graduates program about concerns that some female grads had that certain male members of the graduate cohort had assembled a list, a degrading list of women which assessed them by their so-called hotness,” Mr Betts said.
“We were unable to substantiate the existence of such a list, which doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it just means that we were not able to substantiate it.
“We embarked on a process thereafter including my having conversations with all of the female graduates without any males in the room to make sure they were getting all the support that the department could provide.”
Mr Betts said his department had taken advice from former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins and held several sessions both with the entire cohort of graduates, and separately with female graduates.
He said if further information came to light substantiating the claims he would not hesitate to adopt the “severest sanctions available”.
Mr Betts also committed to ensuring future graduate intakes were more gender-balanced.
Minister not informed
The department’s chief operating officer, Maree Bridger, detailed how the department became aware of the allegation.
“On the 30th of March, we were verbally notified there was a rumour of a list and then in May we had some further verbal advice,” Ms Bridger said.
“We actually reached out and contacted the grad in May and on the 19th of May, we got a written complaint.”
Mr Betts was questioned as to why Infrastructure Minister Catherine King had not been advised.
He replied that the department had learned lessons and it was his responsibility, not the minister’s.
“I haven’t briefed the minister about this issue, no,” he said.
“It’s my accountability to fix it. I’m the employer, I’m the accountable authority.
“I’m not sure involving politicians is helpful.”