One Monday in March, Queensland Human Rights Commission staff gathered for what was pretty standard office fare: an all-hands planning day to work on tweaks to the agency’s strategic plan.
Its newly minted boss, Debbie Platz, would not attend – a move to allow its roughly 90 staff to speak freely about such changes under a vision she has openly said will be less “combative”.
But while external critics have been asking questions of Platz since she began the role this year, what transpired on level 4 of the sunlit George Street tower has pushed staff to air their own.
Accounts shared with this masthead by staff and others with knowledge of the matter have described insensitive and racist language during a presentation that left some staff visibly upset.
That presentation was also given by a representative of a charity with close ties to Platz, who portrayed herself as a friend of the commissioner, raising “red flags” about conflicts of interest.
Sources said the incident and its handling reinforced concerns about Platz’s background, approach, and a disconnect with the office’s statutory role to prevent discrimination and uphold human rights.
“It’s not a place where you should be learning on the job,” said one source granted anonymity to speak as they were not authorised to do so publicly.
Details of the day, and its fallout, have come from the accounts of multiple people either present or later informed, who either agreed to share their recollections or corroborate the details of others.
Towards the end of the morning’s events on March 16, facilitated by an external provider, staff gathered in the large working kitchen area for a session from a representative of Uniforms 4 Kids.
Anne Macdonald, a founding director of the charity and its operations co-ordinator, introduced herself and began to explain the work of the organisation.
Alongside boxes of the used police, emergency service and Australia Zoo uniforms the charity turns into children’s clothing, Macdonald made comments to staff suggesting she and Platz were friends.
“From there we were all kind of just taken aback,” a source said, with only little explicit reference to why it was that Macdonald was there to address staff.
What followed, according to the sources, were comments by Macdonald suggesting those receiving the clothing should be grateful and were in dire need.
Staff recall Macdonald generalising about First Nations people as drug dealers and alcohol abusers, and referring to people who self-harm as “cutters” – at times making cutting motions on her arm.
“By this time people had already left the room in tears, because she gave no … warning about the fact that she was going to bring up all of these themes,” a source said.
“Our HR [human resources] manager stood up and tried to stop the presentation, told people that the themes that [Macdonald] is talking about are triggering and that if anyone needs to go, they can go. Half the room, I would say … left.
“And then even after being told to stop, she continued and again referred specifically to Indigenous ‘cutters’.
“It was difficult for staff to [say anything] … because of the fact that this woman said that she was mates with the commissioner.”
I’m absolutely devastated that anything I said has caused any distress or harm to anyone in the audience … that was not my intention and I apologise unreservedly.
Anne Macdonald in a phone interview with this masthead
At this point, many members of the commission’s senior leadership team were also away from the presentation, having followed staff “out in the hallways trying to comfort them”.
Afterwards, an apology was given by Deputy Commissioner Jane Vasey, who is said to have told staff the executive team were not made fully aware of or consulted on the presentation.
As part of these debrief conversations among staff, it was then discovered Platz’s husband – Glenn Ferguson AM – chaired the charity, which had been founded by her mother.
“[That] for me, is a huge red flag in terms of a conflict of interest … regardless of whether or not the charity is a great cause,” a source said.
The volunteer-run Queensland-based charity’s website features images of Platz in uniform with the clothing during roles with Queensland and federal police, including a 2018 blessing by Pope Francis.
While the charity provides clothing for children in need, another stated aim is to give “opportunities for law enforcement and emergency services organisations to build legitimacy and trust”.
The commission’s most recent annual report shows 23 of the 252 total accepted and finalised complaints in 2024-25 alleged a human rights breach involving police.
In a phone interview on Friday, Macdonald said she was devastated to hear that her comments had caused any distress, harm or offence, which had not been her intention.
“I am so, so sorry … and I apologise unreservedly,” Macdonald said, adding she had been invited by Platz to give the presentation, and had taken along two boxes of clothing for commission staff.
“I left them there so that if anyone wanted to take clothes back to Cairns, Townsville, Cooktown, wherever, they could put them in their luggage. If they weren’t going to be utilised they would be returned to me.”
In a written response to questions, Platz said she was aware of the language and behaviour of Macdonald, which she deemed “unacceptable in any circumstances” – sentiments she has since shared directly with Macdonald.
Platz said her firsthand exposure to the work of the charity, including the garment recycling and recreating by community groups including retired women, meant she believed staff members who wished to pass on such clothing to someone in need could do so.
“It was never intended to represent a formal organisational commitment or sanctioned program,” Platz said, noting that, because of this, she had not previously disclosed her ties to the charity.
“I acknowledge the importance of transparency and I have now updated my conflict of interest form.
“Both the organisation and I have taken steps to support impacted staff, including counselling. I have apologised in writing and in person, and the development of a Cultural Safety Plan is a priority.
“While the idea was shared with the leadership team ahead of the event, I want to be clear that I take full accountability for this matter.”
The office of Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, to whom the independent commission and commissioner is accountable, declined to respond to questions.
Despite a brief return to group activities as some staff slowly returned from lunch on the planning day – if they did at all – what was meant to have been an all-day event was eventually cut short.
The following day, Platz addressed staff in groups. There, she apologised, shared her rationale for the presentation, but often broke down herself – leaving some feeling unable to fully voice concerns.
Three days later, on the Friday, Platz flew out of the country on two weeks leave for a trip planned since August last year.
“Honestly, it was probably good timing,” a source said. “Because it gave us all space to understand what had just happened in a space that is arguably meant to be one of the safest for people.”
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Matt Dennien is a reporter at Brisbane Times covering state politics and the public service. He has previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
