The persecution of all things lewd in the land down under continues. This time, though, it's a government official being shamed for his anime fandom.
Gerard Boyce (above), the deputy president of the Fair Work Comission, is semi-infamous for the "scantily clad" figurines on display in his office. A few that have been specifically mentioned include Joker & Harley Quinn in their Suicide Squad incarnations, Vampirella, and Major from Ghost in the Shell, plus others that haven't yet been identified but have been described as "anime". At one point he briefly had a lifesize cutout of former president Donald Trump and a bunch of fake cameras, which were shortly removed.
Last year he was ordered to remove one such unspecified figure after a coworker, who had only seen a picture of the figurines, issued a complaint. Despite being branded unprofessional and sexist, the verdict was ultimately that if the figurines are suitable for display in stores, Boyce should be allowed to display them in his office.
More recently, the government branch for work, health and safety known as Comcare commented on his figurine hobby. “We did not identify any contraventions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 but considered the display of the figurines to be a psychological hazard,” said a spokesperson for Comcare.
Boyce is in the public eye once more following an incident in December, where he allegedly set off some firecrackers at a work event without a proper license; an act that is illegal in Australia. He is currently under investigation by Comcare and New South Wales Police, which explains why his waifu cabinet is under scrutiny again over a year since it was last in the news.
Comcare have recommended the FWC undergo training on “unacceptable conduct and sexual harassment policies, and available supports," though it's not clear if this is directly tied to the figurine case. Boyce is unable to comment on the situation himself due to his position.
So, what do you guys think? Should a government official be allowed to display his waifu figurines, or are they too too unprofessional to show off in a workplace? Let us know below!
