Webb gave taxpayer-funded gin to PR firm after ‘professional’ advice

Karen Webb gave two bottles of taxpayer-funded gin to a public relations company which gave her media advice before she was appointed as the state’s police commissioner in 2021, raising questions about whether the alcohol was a gift for work the corporate spinners did for her in a private capacity.

After Premier Chris Minns defended Webb over the so-called “commissioner’s gin” saga on Thursday, revelations she handed over bottles to two executives from the PR company DEC have raised new questions about the use of the taxpayer-funded booze.

Speaking in Dubbo on Thursday, Webb told local media she had engaged DEC “before I became commissioner” to give her “some media advice”. Describing it as a “professional engagement”, Webb said she had used the company during the hiring process for the role.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb with Premier Chris Minns.Credit: Louise Kennerley

“I actually engaged the PR firm before I became commissioner, and should it have eventuated that I was named the commissioner, I wasn’t able to access our internal public affairs branch because of other candidates, et cetera,” she said.

“So I engaged them for professional services, for some media advice, on about three occasions before that announcement, so it was a professional engagement.”

The commissioner’s comments made it unclear whether the “professional engagement” was paid for by the NSW Police or by Webb herself. It was also unclear whether she was suggesting the gin was a gift for their services. The then-premier Dominic Perrottet announced Webb as the new police commissioner in November 2021, but the gift register produced under a parliamentary order states the two PR executives received the alcohol in July 2023.

Rod Roberts, the independent MP who first aired the saga surrounding the so-called “commissioner’s gin”, said Webb’s comments on Thursday had left him “even more intrigued and confused than I was before”.

“If the PR company were used by her in a private capacity why has the taxpayer paid for two bottles of gin to go to them?” he said.

“The question begging to be answered is whether this was a bonus for helping her secure the commissioner’s position.”

The NSW Police did not answer questions from the Herald seeking to clarify Webb’s comments, instead noting she had “discontinued the practice of corporate gifting of alcohol as I acknowledge it is not in line with community expectations”. DEC PR did not answer questions and instead said in a statement that it was “engaged in a professional capacity by Mrs Webb”.

Webb’s comments came shortly after NSW Premier Chris Minns defended her over the saga, which has dogged the commissioner since it was revealed police purchased 100 bottles of “commissioner’s gin” from a distillery owned by one of her friends.

The state’s police watchdog previously cleared Webb of any serious misconduct over the gin, saying it was “satisfied that the purchase was in accordance with policies and procedures”. However, it did state Webb “should have disclosed her association with the supplier when she became aware of the purchase of commissioner’s gin”.

But the issue took a turn this week when documents released to NSW parliament raised questions about Webb’s insistence she was not involved in organising the purchase of the alcohol.

Internal police emails released to parliament show staff in the commissioner’s office told the Hope Distillery that Webb had expressed a preference for the “blue-labelled” gin, and hoped to receive an order in time for Christmas.

“I have just been told the [commissioner] would like some bottles to be available to be given out as Christmas gifts,” an email sent from her office in October 2022 stated.

The emails come after Webb told radio network 2GB in August that she “didn’t organise” purchasing the gin and did not realise that they were ordered from Hope Estate. The photos of the “blue” gin the commissioner had apparently expressed a preference for clearly state “Hope Distillery” on the label.

Documents tabled in parliament show the gin was given to, among others, former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, the Police Minister Yasmin Catley and law firm Gilbert and Tobin.

Another two bottles went to staff from PR company DEC. The Daily Telegraph reported DEC had previously organised an event at a Sydney Maserati car dealership that Webb’s husband worked for.

Speaking earlier on Thursday, Minns defended Webb and reiterated that she retained his confidence.

“I don’t have evidence that she has misled the public,” he said in relation to her previous comments.

“I mean, she’s been public and fully articulated the circumstances around those gifts.”

Webb inherited the tradition of gifting Hope alcohol from her predecessor Mick Fuller, and pointed out that she had created the gift register out of a desire to be accountable. “Transparency for me has been key and I am happy to be transparent about it,” she said.

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