Sheepish deputy finally picks up on ‘the vibe’

The hundreds of submissions and dozens of interviews undertaken so far have proven the Palaszczuk Government’s integrity crisis is far from just a ‘vibe’, writes Jessica Marszalek.

Far from just a vibe, the 200 submissions and 60 interviews undertaken by Professor Peter Coaldrake so far have provided some pretty concrete examples of the cultural and integrity problems of the Palaszczuk Government.

A sheepish Acting Premier Steven Miles was asked yesterday to reflect on comments made in February when he suggested claims being raised amounted only to a “vibe”.

There are obviously plenty of people who have now come forward with their concerns who disagreed with him.

And now, the government has to listen.

Coaldrake’s review got off to a rocky start when the Opposition chose to question his own ethics due to a four-decades-old Labor membership and the fact he’d attended a Labor Budget lunch once.

Acting Premier Steven Miles addresses the media at a press conference at Queensland’s Parliament House. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

But interested people should read his interim report and make their own minds up about the seriousness in which he’s undertaking his task.

This ain’t no picnic for the government.

It’s certainly no whitewash, and Miles conceded as much.

Coaldrake has reported what he has been told and he’s already found several problem themes corroborated by the weight of testimony.

In fact, there are mic-drop moments littered throughout his 30-page initial report.

But he can only report what he’s told.

And so, it is now very much on the public servants who want things to change to speak up in the last two months of this review.

I hope public servants who’ve reached out with various stories but have been too frightened to go on the record might find comfort in the crowd now.

Go to coaldrakereview.qld.gov.au