Sandpit politics

Throw into that mix bullying, abuse and interpersonal conflict and our MPs are literally “asking for it”. I think I can safely predict that even if they don’t realise it, belting the stuffing out of each other isn’t doing much for their mental health, or even their physical health.

When we harm each other in this way it not only results in diminished mental health but also diminished productivity. How much time and energy did Beazley and Tuckey spend last Thursday and Friday stewing over their spat and the media’s focus of the incident, instead of on the issues that we have elected them to consider?

If you think bullying and abuse is just part of life then at least think of the economic consequences. Progressive workplaces actively promote the mental and physical health of their employees. Why? Because as outlined in a recent report by Medibank Private, employees with a high health and well being score are three times as productive as those with a low score.

Recently the federal and many state governments have made very welcome and substantial increases in mental health funding. There is a certain irony that this happens, yet on the other hand our elected representatives are become role models for behaviour that in turn destroys mental health – theirs and ours.