A senior Transport for NSW executive says she was left fearing for her safety after a cultural adviser made a death threat against her but was allowed to stay on the project “because he was Aboriginal and a cultural knowledge holder”.
According to The Weekend Australian, Ian Brown, who is contracted as a cultural heritage manager on the $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass project, allegedly made a death threat against Rochelle Hicks during a meeting at the Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council in June.
“If I see Rochelle I will kill her,” Mr Brown reportedly said, although he as since denied making a threat.
Ms Hicks, the project’s deputy director, was not present at the meeting but was informed of the threat afterwards.
According to Ms Hicks, despite the alleged threat — and Mr Brown having previously called her a “white c**t” — her superiors refused to remove him as a contractor as they feared the project could be shut down.
However the state government has since intervened, announcing Mr Brown would be removed from all Transport for NSW projects.
“Transport for NSW directed the local Aboriginal land council to remove him from the bypass project in its entirety, so that’s it, he’s out,” Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison told 2GB’s Ray Hadley on Monday.
It came after Ms Hicks spoke to 2GB’s Ben Fordham earlier on Monday, saying she “felt shocked that that language was used about me” and slammed the department’s handling of the situation.
“He was pulled up by a senior manager from Transport and told he cannot make threats like that,” she said.
Ms Hicks further claims that he had responded by saying “it’s not a threat, it’s a fact”, which she said was completely unacceptable.
Ms Hicks said when she found out about the alleged threat, “despite how upset I was, I was prepared to deal with it myself with no help from the executives above me”.
“I informed the project director … I was going to remove Ian Brown from the project completely with no further work as a contractor or a stakeholder,” she said.
“As there’s no security controls to restrict people entering the construction site, I was going to inform the workforce about the death threat and ask that if they saw Ian on site he was to leave immediately. And then I was going to report the matter to the police on behalf of Transport.”
But she was soon told by her managers that “I was not permitted to terminate Ian’s contract because was a cultural knowledge holder and Aboriginal, and it may be a political risk”.
“I completely disagreed with it,” she said.
“You cannot have that behaviour on a job this size let alone any workplace or even in the home. I disagreed and I escalated it further but I was told by [my manager’s] superior that if I didn’t feel safe I shouldn’t come to work. It was suggested I take some time off while this was unpacked.”
She spent two months off so her employer could “work through it and unpack it”, but when she called in to Transport’s HR department on September 12 she was informed Mr Brown was still on the project.
On September 19 her solicitor wrote to Transport to say her contract was “untenable and I want out because Ian Brown’s still employed on the project”.
Ms Hicks said Transport had banned Mr Brown from the main site office compound but otherwise he was still able to access the rest of the 14-kilometre project.
“If I went back to that project Ian Brown is still engaged as a contractor,” she said.
“They’ve completely ignored my correspondence. Nearly four months I’ve been trying to resolve this issue.”
She added she had been offered “zero support”.
“I’ve had to seek counselling myself, I haven’t had any follow-up calls from Transport since July 24, I’ve had to reach out to Transport myself,” she said.
Since speaking out to The Weekend Australian, Ms Hicks said her “phone hasn’t stopped”.
“I’ve had so much support,” she told 2GB.
“I think people are outraged this is happening and there’s decisions based on race. For anyone that works in the construction industry safety is paramount, and they know people get the sack for a lot less than this. So the double standards, the fact I’m calling it out I’m getting a lot of support. What have you got to do to get the sack?”
Mr Brown told The Weekend Australian he denied making a threat, saying it was “just f**king words” and called Ms Hicks “a liar”.
Transport responds
Transport for NSW said in a statement on Monday that safety was its “number one priority”.
“Any complaints made concerning alleged unacceptable workplace behaviour are examined by Transport for NSW and the appropriate action is taken,” a spokesman said.
“Transport for NSW has strong measures in place to ensure the safety of all of our people, if there is anything that compromises these measures we will take immediate action.
“As a result of this ongoing matter, Transport for NSW implemented a number of controls in conjunction with the Local Aboriginal Land Council, who are a Registered Aboriginal Party in relation to the Coffs Harbour bypass project and required to be consulted with as part of the project’s conditions of approval.
“One of those controls is ensuring the cultural knowledge holder involved in this matter no longer has access to the project site, an arrangement that has been in place since July 20, 2023.
“Following further inquiries, Transport for NSW reported the allegations of unacceptable behaviour to NSW Police on August 18, 2023. At that time NSW Police had already commenced an investigation into the matter following a report made to them by our employee.
“Transport for NSW regularly evaluates our internal processes and any actions taken.
“As this is a confidential individual employee matter, which is being reviewed and subject to legal proceedings, we are unable to comment further.
“Transport for NSW will not comment on allegations made against employees in relation to this matter.”
frank.chung@news.com.au