An independent inquiry into workplace bullying at Australian scientific institution the CSIRO may lead to the creation of a specialist misconduct unit to investigate "significant interpersonal misconduct and issues relating to scientific integrity".

The inquiry, run by former Commonwealth ombudsman Dennis Pearce, has released a first-phase report which has found "no major problem of workplace bullying", but identified what it described as "pockets of concern", shortcomings in CSIRO procedures and cases in which "common sense and empathy are lacking".


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