Quinn v Overland - Federal Court to Rule on Return to Work today
Cate Quinn is the Manager of the Drug and Alcohol Branch of the Victoria Police Forensic Centre and has been suspended on pay for over 200 days. The Federal Court will rule today on her injunction application to return to work.

During this time, despite Cate's repeated requests, Victoria Police has been unable to provide her with particulars of any allegations against her.

VicPol then changed their argument before the Court last week; dropped off using the Ombudsman s report as their basis, re-issued the stand down and provided new particulars about mostly administrative and procedural allegations that date back at least 5 years.

Not surprisingly VicPol now rely on the statements of the very people who are the subject of a bullying complaint made by Cate back in 2006.

The fresh affidavits reveal how their new charges using allegations up to five years old have been concocted to justify the suspension of Cate, 7 months after standing her down.

Their actions are crippling her career and an attempt to keep her unnecessarily from the workplace as payback.

Cate has been singularly pursued by VicPol under the guise of an Ombudsman report into drug handling procedures at the Forensic Centre while 4 more senior male officers have either been promoted, allowed to side step with all entitlements, take early retirement with full superannuation benefits, or offered but declined a promotion to positions outside Macleod."

Cate has served Victorians for over 26 years and as a specialist in her field has won accolades for her work from her employer and from colleagues around the world.

Cate desires to return to work despite all of this, her expertise involving the analysis of the growing clandestine lab discoveries being an additional resource so badly needed.

The Federal Court today (Wednesday 28th July 2010), will rule on Ms Quinn s application in seeking an injunction allowing her to return to work.


Media Enquiries:

CPSU Secretary Karen Batt on 0418 55 29 25 or CPSU Communications Manager Julian Kennelly on 0417 541 789.


Wednesday, 28 July 2010