The Sauce: FOI needed for details of register of high-end gifts given to bureaucrats

The Premier’s Department has a room filled with gifts, from Hermes scarfs to bottles of booze. But The Sauce has been told to file an FOI to see the register of exactly what is in there.

Deep within the Premier’s Department is a windowless “room” filled with treasures, from expensive Hermes scarfs — which retail for about $1000 a piece – to bottles of booze.

The room, according to our source who has stepped inside, is filled with movable shelves laden with items that have been collected by public servants over the years.

According to the department’s “gifts and hospitality policy”, bureaucrats are required to declare any offers of gifts which are valued at $50 or more.

The policy actually states bureaucrats must decline the gift unless it is “an act of goodwill” to the people of NSW.

Informed of the room, The Sauce was curious to learn whether there was a register documenting each item, what kinds of items were in the room and the fate of the gifts — for example, if they were ever auctioned for charity.

After firing off questions to the department, we learned that public servants should try to refuse a gift, except on occasions where it would be “rude or offensive” not to.

As for what happens to all those gifts, we were told all government agencies must have in place a policy for the management of gifts and benefits, a gifts and benefits register, and training and support for employees.

Gifts presented to bureaucrats include expensive Hermes scarfs and bottles of booze (the items pictured are not the actual items in the Premier’s Department room).

Despite making a request for the register, we were told a freedom of information request under the GIPA Act could be made to access the list.

Our source, who discovered the room last year, recalled it to be filled with both “bougie” items and tourist artefacts.

“I have seen a Hermes scarf. There is definitely alcohol. It’s a windowless room full of stuff,” the source said.

“It’s been there for years apparently.”

Given NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s “gin scandal”, we believe the gift register should be made public.

STRANGE BEDFELLOW

Given union-bashing is a favourite past-time of Coalition MPs, the last thing one would expect to see is a senior Liberal frontbencher wandering around Parliament House in a Fire Brigade Employees Union T-shirt.

But that was the sight last week when witnesses spotted senior Liberal frontbencher Damien Tudehope sporting the union garb while waiting out the back of the building for what we later learned was a very large order of Chinese takeaway.

Damien Tudehope into his more usual workwear. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The firefighters’ union is in Labor’s bad books at present, having embarrassed the Minns government by delaying the August 4 Metro opening after last month slapping a ban on members taking part in safety drills amid a pay dispute.

Was this the reason Tudehope had become a fan?

Upon making an inquiry, The Sauce was informed that Tudehope was gifted the T-shirt after accompanying the union in a demonstration at the back of parliament earlier this year.

As for why he was wearing it on Thursday, Tudehope revealed he was on his way to yet another farewell party being held for former premier Dominic Perrottet and had put it on “for fun”.

The gathering — held in Tudehope’s office — was attended by various pollie staffers and several Labor MPs, including Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson and her husband, Vinnies NSW executive director Sam Crosby.

ZOOM FAIL

What is it about lawyers and “Zoom” calls?

First there was the Texas lawyer who accidentally appeared as a cat after a filter fail during a virtual court hearing during the pandemic.

Australian Turf Club Vice Chair Tim Hale SC (not pictured) has had his own Zoom malfunction, harking back to US lawyer Rod Ponton’s infamous cat episode. Picture: AFP

Then on Friday, Australian Turf Club Vice Chair Tim Hale SC appeared with a “ghost girl” in the backdrop of his screen as he dialled in to the state parliamentary inquiry into the sale of Rosehill racecourse from Singapore.

While Hale had a “green screen” to block out the background, the app — we believe it was “Webex” — failed to conceal the young woman, whom we later learned was a member of Hale’s family.

It took several awkward minutes during the hearing of Hale speaking with his accompanying “ghost” before committee chair Scott Farlow finally spoke up.

“Mr Hale, before you continue, (just want) to let you know that the person behind you is somewhat visible on the screen despite the green screen effect,” Farlow said.

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Originally published as The Sauce: FOI needed for details of register of high-end gifts given to bureaucrats