Several issues featured on the 7PM Project in the past week have really gotten tongues, or fingers in this case, wagging. From the files of Your Say, here are some of the things that you had to say.

Workplace Bullying

Hey Guys, I was really taken back with your "workplace bullying" segment.

I was working as a support worker for people with a mental illness, I was very unhappy at my place of employment and have only realised after your report, that I was bullied the whole year I was there.

Two months after I left (my contract was not renewed, I wasn't informed why) I suffered from a nervous breakdown, I haven't been able to work since.

When I get stronger within myself I would very much like to do something about it, however I am unaware of how. Do you have any information that would help? Thank you for opening my eyes.

Sarah

If you’re doing it real tough, try Lifeline http://www.lifeline.org.au/ or Beyond Blue http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Click the links below for info in your State.

http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/ManagingSafety/ProblemsAtWork/BullyingStop.htm

Victoria

http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/wsinternet/WorkSafe/Home/Safety+and+Prevention/Health+And+Safety+Topics/Bullying/

WA

http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe/content/safety_topics/Bullying/Dealing_with_bullying_at_the_w.html

NSW

http://workcover.nsw.gov.au/healthsafety/healthsafetytopics/Psychosocialissues/Pages/Bullying.aspx

Queensland

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/harassment/index.htm

Tasmania

http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/146256/GB253.pdf

ACT

http://www.worksafety.act.gov.au/publication/view/1110

NT

http://www.worksafe.nt.gov.au/corporate/documents/15.01.11.pdf

Proposed cuts to Medical Research

Have we indeed become the stupid country?

After being overseas for 5 years, training in medical research in the USA and Europe, I eventually returned home with my wife (a Belgian national) and naively thought my home country of Australia had grown to become the clever country that was the envy of the world.

Sadly the day I arrived home, I was confronted with the ever present nature of our sports culture.

My wife, living here for the first time, remarked by asking "who the hell is Ben Cousins and Brendan Fevola?", with my reply being, "footballers behaving badly".

We also amazingly looked on, as in 2010 budget there was a 195 million increase in sports funding and the obsession to make sure our Olympic team was "top 5" in the medal tally.

Now I vainly explained to my wife, how Australia had got to this somewhat drunken state of sports obsession through our colonial past and then used the now common argument of the importance of "role models" in a modern society.

After hearing various stories of drunken brawls, urinating in public and various sex scandals, this argument didn't hold up for long.

Then the recent news came that our government was to cut spending on medical research to the tune of 400 million.

How could I explain this? Well it must be the financial climate.

But why is the Obama administration holding steady with medical research funding? Wasn't the USA at its financial knees?

Looking at every other developed country touch by the GFC, they were also holding firm on funding. At this point, I hung my head in shame.

I was embarrassed and thought how stupid and pathetic we must look on a global stage.

Where was my clever country? What had we become? Why did I come home and why did I convince my lovely wife to follow?

As passionate medical researchers we also thought we were also role models, worth looking after, just like our sporting counterparts.

Sadly it appears not. For our training we don't get paid a lot and some of us risk our lives on a daily basis working with contagious diseases with no known cure.

Whilst we love this country even with its faults, we have and are being deserted.

We have families and need to pay bills like everyone else. As we are early on in our careers, our only choice will be to move to countries which respect and look after their scientists.

Sadly these future countries will be our new homes and any thought of returning to Australia, will become bitter-sweet memory.

Stuart

Preset limits for Gamblers

In relation to the license to punt, I'm not shocked that everyone thinks this is a great idea.

But, good INTENTIONS don't always have good RESULTS.

Having the license will literally to NOTHING to help problem gamblers. It's the usual situation where we play the blame game for our problems: blame the government, blame the pokies, blame your spouse, blame the dog.

A license to punt is a bandaid solution not getting to the CAUSE of problem gambler's issues, which is what we need to do if we're so committed to helping them.

As a non-gambler, my main issue is that it's another example of where the government is trying to decide what's good for us and what isn't. I don't want to live in (more of) a nanny state...

Jason

Please remember that clubs are huge contributors to our communities.

ClubsNSW are a major sponsor of my work who are a not for profit regional sports academy. Also another 6 local clubs sponsor our individual sports programs that we run.

One of our clubs held a business luncheon when 2 major sydney rugby league teams came to town and donated the profits to us.

We could not survive without support from clubs.

This is just one small example of how they support their communities. Please don't punish them for all the good work they do.

Justine

Having rebuilt my life both financially and emotionally after a gambling addiction that cost in excess of $250K, I believe it’s time to get serious about gambling.

As a self appointed Responsible Gambling Advocate I am passionate about making a difference for gamblers and their families.

Over the past few months I've paid visits to numerous clubs, pubs and casinos in QLD and NSW just to see what they are doing to support problem gamblers.

It’s easy to see the clubs that have a "don't care" attitude versus the ones that take their obligation to Responsible Gambling seriously.

One of the largest clubs in North Brisbane had the cheek to be displaying a number to a help line that had been inactive for 3 years.

 I called the number as I do in every club I go into and the person on the other end had been trying for 3 years to get the number changed.

I made an appointment to speak to the Gaming Manager, went along for the meeting and he didn't even have the decency to show up!!

Assured by the Human Resource Manager it would be dealt with, when I went back there a couple of months later, nothing had been done.

There are so many things Clubs can do RIGHT NOW that would make a huge impact for gamblers.

Lyndsey

ADFA Skype Incident

The ADFA apologists should try to understand that this is less about the Skype event, though that's of course important, but more about the way it was handled.

THAT's the culture - the way these obscene behaviours are addressed - or not - by the very senior officers.

Clearly Skype was not a single event - these things happen all the time. Because I would suggest that the only consequence is a smack on the wrist. That's what happened with this until last week.

Jacqueline

Jacinta
               

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