Discrimination president accused of interference 

Puplick helped friend to get compensation

 by DAVID PENBERTHY

The Daily Telegraph, May 2, 2003 (page 7)

DISCRIMINATION chief Chris Puplick helped a friend win thousands of dollars in compensation for a workplace complaint over gay victimization.

Mr Puplick’s friend, who he nicknamed “Bunny”, lodged the complaint with the NSW Anti Discrimination Board (ADB) of which he is president.

Despite their friendship, Mr Puplick gave advice to the man in an email in March 2000 on how to have his complaint investigated by the ADB, promising his friend the case would receive “priority”.

 Mr Puplick last night confirmed to The Daily Telegraph he was the author of the e-mail dated March 29, 2000

“Any imputation that this complainant was given preferential or special treatment is untrue” he said.

 “The e-mail is one which is seeking to reassure this complainant, as indeed I have done with many complainants, that matters will not be delayed and will be dealt with expeditiously”

“I categorically deny the individual was assisted in the production or the making or the lodgment of the complaint”

 The e-mail shows that some of the advice the former Liberal senator gave Bunny was over lunch together - and that their friendship was so close that Bunny even coined his own nickname for Mr Publick: “Big Bruvver”

The March 2000 complaint was lodged by Bunny against the chief executive officer of a television media company.

 Mr Puplick helped Bunny get through the process, promising to fast-track his complaint, and advising him on how best to make a case for victimisation.

Mr Puplick - who is also a board member of the South East Sydney Area Health Service -  helped Bunny obtain medical certificates supporting his case through a doctor he knew.

According to a copy of an e-mail he also took Bunny to restaurants, offered him theatre tickets, and helped him financially with a personal debt issue.

At the same time Mr Puplick was writing to the victim of the March 2000 complaint advising him on the "independent" role of the ADB.

"Our role is to investigate complaints and then, if I am satisfied that there are grounds for our proceeding further, to help you and [the other parties] discuss the complaint and each a settlement you both agree on," he wrote.

However a few days prior to this letter, Mr Puplick wrote this to Bunny: "Your matters have now been assigned by me to appropriate officers and I'll let you know who and when you may expect to hear [from] in due course.   I have instructed they get some priority.

"Make sure you record the date and nature of any discussions, especially if there is any hint of victimisation."

The exchange in the two pieces of correspondence confirms that Mr Puplick is guilty of serious conflict of interest.

The Daily Telegraph knows the identity of the parties involved in the complaint but for privacy reasons cannot publish their names.

When contacted yesterday, the victim of the complaint was stunned by the revelations of Mr Puplicks friendship.

"Good God," he said when we read him the correspondence between Mr Puplick and Bunny.

However he refused to comment any further, saying the settlement was confidential and that he wanted to move from the affair.

EXCERPTS from the email a copy of which was received by The Daily Telegraph

Header
Chris Puplick     29/03/2000    17:59
To:   [e-mail address redacted]
cc: 
Subject: Re: Hey big Bruv
---
Fast-tracking his complaints:
"I have instructed they get some priority"

Increasing his chances of success:
"Reminder - please keep good diary notes of any conversations with human resources . . . especially if there is any hint of victimisation"

Helping him get medical certificate:
"Have left a message with Dr. [name withheld] and will get back to you."

Sorting out his finances:
"We need to get some coherence into your financial life as well as the rest of it. . . sort of."

Wining and dining:
"Thanks for your company at lunch - much appreciated."

A day at the theatre, a night on the town:
"On Saturday April 15 I have two tickets for the matinee of the final year students play at NIDA - Pains of Youth, how appropriate.  If you would like to come with me that would be nice and I can drop you back home or wherever afterwards."

A cheery goodbye: 
"That's all for now.  It's really quite nice having a little brother (sort of)."
---

EDITORIAL (page 28 of same issue)

CHRIS Puplick has some explaining to do.

Having been rightly slated by the Premier yesterday for his nonsense report on media racism over coverage of gang rapes and terrorism, the anti-discrimination czar now faces a potentially graver embarrassment.

On the face of it, the potential conflict of interest in helping a friend win a gay discrimination complaint makes his position as Anti Discrimination Board president untenable.

As Mr Puplick says, it is not the job of this board to take sides.   He appears to have done just that, and must now explain why he should not be stripped of his post.

--ooOoo--