Bruce Saunders ‘seeks vengeance’ on whistleblowers: LNP

Bruce Saunders’ factional boss won’t take action on the assistant minister despite the LNP declaring he must go over his demands to unmask bullied whistleblowers in the Coaldrake review.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles won’t discipline his factional ally Bruce Saunders, despite claims the assistant minister was seeking vengeance on whistleblowers.

Mr Miles, speaking publicly on Saturday for the first time since the Coaldrake report was handed down on Tuesday, insisted the Palaszczuk government took the report into its culture and integrity seriously.

He declined, however, to criticise Member for Maryborough and Left factional ally Bruce Saunders who last week called for the identity of bullied whistleblowers contained in the report to be assessed for any “anti-Labor” bias.

“I’ll let him speak for himself,” Mr Miles said.

“The Premier has been very clear that we take full responsibility for the matters reported in the Coaldrake report.

“No one should be bullied at work.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders and Premier Annastacia Palaczcsuk in Maryborough. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Saunders had justified his comments, declaring he was simply “curious” to understand their motives.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said Mr Miles, as head of the Labor Left faction, should push to sack Mr Saunders as Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing.

“I am shocked an alarmed at the comments he made a few days ago with respect to basically seeking vengeance on whistleblowers who gave information to Peter Coaldrake,” Mr Bleijie said of Mr Saunders.

“This is not Bruce being Bruce, this guy is an assistant minister of the crown.”

Questioned about Mr Saunders comments this week, Ms Palaszczuk said “Bruce is Bruce”.

Mr Bleijie criticised the Premier’s “weak” defence, noting it was the same one she used when former MP Jo-Ann Miller raised concerns about corruption within the government.

“It’s just Jo-Ann being Jo-Ann,” the Premier said in 2017.

Mr Miles also revealed Cabinet would discuss on Monday how to implement the 30-day release of sensitive documents, as recommended in the Coaldrake report, but could not say if the cost of the Wellcamp quarantine facility to taxpayers would be included.

“We have previously indicated that there are commercial terms regarding that particular of contract that limit what can be disclosed,” he said.

“My approach has always been to make available whatever information I can.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has responded to the Coaldrake report.

Queensland Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov will officially exit on Sunday after five years in the role – despite offering to remain while a permanent appointment is recruited.

Mr Miles denied the denial of Dr Stepanov’s offer was an attempt to avoid her appearing at Parliamentary Estimates this month, which will be attended by acting Integrity Commissioner Mark Glen.

“It’s not unusual to have acting appointments in the interim between when incumbents move on and new people are appointed,” Mr Miles said.

“She’s now finished up we have an entirely appropriate acting Integrity Commissioner in place while a permanent appointment made.”

Mr Bleijie claimed Mr Glen’s appointment was a rush job, despite Dr Stepanov resigning almost six months ago.

“It is unbelievable that the government has not appointed a full-time integrity commissioner despite all the issues happening in Queensland,” he said.

“It’s like they forgot.

“She (the Premier) did not want the Integrity Commissioner at the budget estimates coming up.”