Opinion: On a day of jaw-dropping moments this one was the most incredible

First there was the ‘b***h on a witch hunt’ allegation, then the emotional denial. But it was what the Premier did that was truly jaw-dropping, writes Jessica Marszalek.

It was a jaw-dropping moment when Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov told a parliamentary committee she had been called a “b***h on a witch hunt” by none other than her boss, Public Service Commissioner Rob Setter.

It was the first of many jaw-dropping moments throughout Monday.

Just hours later, Mr Setter called a rare press conference to categorically deny ever making any misogynistic comments about Dr Stepanov and to say that he was “appalled” at what she had alleged.

Further, Mr Setter highlighted what he called long-running concerns about allegations raised “regarding the psychological safety” of staff in Dr Stepanov’s office, without taking a single question to explain his concerns.

But perhaps the biggest jaw-dropping moment was Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cavalier response to two extremely senior members of her own department publicly tearing shreds off one another.

They should “sit in a room” and work it out, was the crux of the Premier’s attitude.

Remembering that both are connected to a live Crime and Corruption Commission investigation and that the junior-ranked official has alleged the man in charge of her resourcing has called her a highly-offensive name in what is obviously now a toxic workplace relationship – this is, apparently, an appropriate response.

Ms Palaszczuk made it clear that she had not checked with her director-general, Rachel Hunter, about whether she was aware of any complaint made by Dr Stepanov.

Why she is so unconcerned about the actions of two senior officials in her own department is unclear.

But leaving aside all of this, we might also consider the message this sends to all those public servants Ms Palaszczuk says she respects and encourages to come forward with complaints.

Are they meant to come forward, or just “sit in a room” and get over it?