Unacceptable Behaviours on transport infrastructure projects

No one should ever feel unsafe or be subject to unreasonable or unlawful behaviour on a Department of Transport and Main Roads project worksite.

To ensure workers on our transport infrastructure projects are able to recognise and reports unacceptable behaviours, an Unacceptable Behaviours Guide and 13 000 QSTOP reporting service were introduced on 1 July 2025.

The need for an Unacceptable Behaviours Guide

In August 2024 State and Territory Governments entered into a new Federal Funding Agreement Schedule (FFAS) for Land Transport Infrastructure Projects with the Australian Government.

The Schedule places obligations on States and Territory agencies to demonstrate compliance with Commonwealth legislation, and to ensure allegations or instances of criminal behaviour or corruption are reviewed and reported to the appropriate regulator.

The Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian Transport Agencies jointly developed the Unacceptable Behaviours Guide (The Guide) for industry stakeholders to meet this obligation.

About the Unacceptable Behaviours Guide

The Unacceptable Behaviours Guide provides a consistent approach to outlining unacceptable behaviours and when and how to report such behaviours. The document has been developed following extensive consultation with regulators and consolidates all pre-existing obligations in one accessible resource.

Benefits of the Guide

The jointly developed Guide aims to:

• reduce the burden on industry by providing a clear, consistent, and structured process for reporting.
• remove barriers to reporting by empowering everyone to know when and how to report unacceptable behaviours.
• apply a ‘low bar’ to support reporting poor behaviours before they escalate to more serious matters. There does not need to be conclusive evidence of behaviour to report. If in doubt, report it.
• contribute to an ethical construction industry with a culture of integrity by supporting safe workplaces and the psychosocial and physical safety of everyone working on government funded projects.

Application

While the FFAS obligations apply to transport infrastructure projects which attract federal funding, the department is implementing on all transport infrastructure projects.

The behaviour standards apply to our staff as well as contractors, suppliers, unions and the public. For this reason, it is important that the Guide and reporting process is understood by anyone who enters our workplaces and project worksites.

Reporting Unacceptable Behaviours

The department has established the 13 000 QSTOP service for confidential reporting of unacceptable behaviours on our project sites

Contact 13 000 QSTOP:

• Phone: 1300 077 867
• Email: [email protected]
• Always call 000 in case of an emergency

QSTOP is open to everyone, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, unions and members of the public.

The Department of Housing and Public Works manages QSTOP on behalf of us, including receiving, reviewing and referring reports of unacceptable behaviours to the appropriate regulator or law enforcement authority.

Implementation

The department will work with Principal Contractors and our Project Managers to implement the Guide and 13 000 QSTOP reporting service on all transport infrastructure project worksites. A toolkit with materials to support implementation is currently under development.

Unacceptable Behaviours Guide Overview

This guide helps explain the types of unacceptable behaviours and how to report them to a regulator or law enforcement authority through the QSTOP service.

Allegations or incidents of criminal behaviour

• Intentionally or recklessly inflicting bodily harm (of any kind), physical assault.
• Stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse. For example, photographing for the purpose of causing harassment; posting unauthorised materials on social media; off-site visits without consent; shouting or directing verbal insults.
• Sexual assault.
• Breaches of the peace. For example, rioting; forcible entry; forcible detention; threatening violence.
• Arson.
• Vandalism or graffiti.
• Theft.
• Trespass (including break and enter).
• Wilful property damage. For example, damaging equipment to prevent its use.
• Public nuisance. For example, disruptive behaviours such as obstructing entry ways or harassing individuals who are attempting to enter a worksite.
• Taking or dealing in illegal substances.

Allegations or incidents of corrupt conduct

• Fraud. For example, falsely reporting the number of hours worked and pocketing the difference in fees received.
• Giving, receiving or soliciting corrupting benefits. For example, paying to secure endorsement of an enterprise agreement or accepting a personal benefit from a supplier in exchange for ensuring the supplier's engagement on the project.
• Bribery. For example, accepting payment in exchange for award of a contract, or offering payment to ignore safety violations.
• Extortion. For example, using threats to extract money or services.
• Conduct of business for improper private gain. For example, using a position of power to influence the engagement of a contractor which is owned by a relative.
• Dishonest, unfair, inappropriate procurement. For example, collusion to inflate the costs of a project or work package, concealing conflict of interest, misuse of confidential information.

Allegations or instances of industrial non-compliance

• Unlawful industrial action. For example, a group of workers arbitrarily cease work in protest over a workplace dispute; workers blocking entrances and access to workplaces.
• Entry without required permit. For example, union official enters worksite without required entry permit.
• Hindering/obstructing/behaving in an improper manner. For example, taking videos or photographs without a lawful basis, refusing to be escorted, refusing reasonable directions.
• Intimidation, bullying and/or threats to make an enterprise agreement. For example, telling a contractor they will be excluded from work if they do not enter into a specified form of enterprise agreement or an enterprise agreement endorsed by a particular organisation.
• Coercion or threats regarding engaging specified suppliers or contractors. For example, threatening a contractor that if the contractor does not hire specific subcontractors they will face work stoppages.
• Non-compliance with other site entry requirements.
• Wage theft.

Allegations or instances of workplace health and safety non-compliance

• Occurrence of, or failure to report, a notifiable incident . For example, serious injury, illness or dangerous incident.
• Behaviours that pose a risk to the psychological health and safety of personnel. For example, bullying, threatening or intimidating behaviour such as swearing, yelling or shirt-fronting, posting unauthorised materials on social media.
• Entry without permit or entry permit notice.
• Breach of entry permit conditions.
• Non-compliance with other site entry requirements. For example, entry into exclusion zones.
• Non-Compliance with Provisional Improvement Notices or other enforcement actions undertaken, or instigated by, the relevant WHS Regulator.
• Illegitimate exercise of powers by health and safety representatives (HSRs). For example, unlawful or invalid issuing of Provisional Improvement Notices, or cease work notices, by HSRs.

Contact

We all have an obligation to speak up to support safe and ethical workplaces.

For confidential reporting of Unacceptable Behaviours on one of our project sites, contact QSTOP:

• Phone: 1300 077 867
• Email: [email protected]
• Always call 000 in case of an emergency