Crime and Corruption Commission to probe councils, cops and university for dodgy practices

Government departments, a university and Queensland councils, including in Ipswich, Bundaberg and the Whitsundays, are being targeted by the corruption watchdog as it zeroes in on the dodgy practices of some public servants.

Queensland’s corruption watchdog is zeroing in on any public servants pocketing public resources, hiring their mates and lying about their credentials.

The Crime and Corruption Commission has published a list of who is in its sights over the next two years as it proactively audits corruption risks across councils, the police service, government departments and potentially a university.

A snapshot of the two-year program reveals investigators have already begun auditing fuel use by council employees in Ipswich, Bundaberg and Whitsunday to detect any potential fraud during a six-month look at the alleged misuse of public resources.

Queensland councils, government departments and a university are on a Crime and Corruption Commission hit list zeroing in on dodgy public servants.

The Education and Environment and Science departments, the Queensland Police Service and SunWater are also being probed as the watchdog warned “public agencies should not assume that employees will make sound judgments, particularly when their personal interests are at stake”.

It said there was increased risk when employees had a side hustle they may be tempted to subsidise with stolen supplies.

“Public resources are intended to help employees carry out tasks associated with their work duties and provide efficient services to the community,“ the document says.

“They are not provided for the personal benefit of employees.”

The CCC will also examine corruption risks related to nepotism and undue influence in recruiting and comes after a string of complaints around hiring practices, including at Gladstone Ports Corporation and the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, both of which have been put on notice they may be audited.

The Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water Department, the Fraser Coast and Cassowary Coast Regional councils, and Griffith University are also on a list of potential targets.

“Corrupt conduct around recruitment and selection is a common issue identified in CCC investigations and by other integrity agencies,” the document notes.

“Undue influence in the recruitment process has also been identified as a key corruption risk by the CCC.

“Employing people, including family members, without a genuine merit-based process may affect productivity, lead to inefficient use of limited resources, and create a poor workplace culture.”

It says corruption risks arose too when agencies did not properly screen potential employees, including failing to verify a job applicant’s claims about qualifications, work background, discipline and criminal histories and conflicts of interest.

The CCC revealed earlier this year there had been a spike in complaints about suspected corruption in recruitment in the public service, with chief executive Jen O‘Farrell telling a federal parliament inquiry that could be linked to the ongoing hiring freeze.

Ms O‘Farrell suggested the uncertain economic times and the very few vacancies advertised could be leading to increased perceptions of unfairness and may explain the trend.