EXPLAINED: Three key figures who left the Palaszczuk government embroiled in scandal

Here are the three key figures who have voiced concerns about interference and integrity within the Queensland Government.

The Palaszczuk government has faced a grilling this week over its track record on integrity.

An integrity probe into the state government’s alleged interference in public documents for the purpose of political gain is underway while the corruption watchdog braces for an inquiry led by legendary investigator Tony Fitzgerald.

The terms of reference for the inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission, dubbed Fitzgerald 2.0, say the examination will focus on the watchdog’s use of its powers but there are calls for it to be expanded to rival the original inquiry from the QC, who exposed widespread corruption within the Queensland government in 1989.

Here are the three key figures who have voiced concerns about interference and integrity within the Queensland Government.

MIKE SUMMERELL

The former Queensland State Archivist had remained silent since leaving his record-keeping role last year.

But Mike Summerell broke his silence last weekend, declaring he was pressured to water down a scathing report into cabinet minister Mark Bailey’s ‘mangocube’ private email affair.

Mr Summerell has been scathing of the state government’s integrity.

When Ms Palaszczuk responded to the accusations by insisting her government had “robust” checks and balances on integrity, the former archivist doubled down.

Mr Summerell then provided allegedly doctored documents to back up his claim annual reports were modified before being tabled in parliament to hide “bad news” or “anything that was perceived as negative”.

NIKOLA STEPANOV

Queensland’s Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov resigned in January after revealing Public Service Commission officials allegedly took a laptop from her office and erased its contents “without my knowledge or consent” in March.

Nikola Stepanov speaks at the estimates committee hearing at Queensland parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jono Searle

This week, she landed a parting blow on the state government by declaring Ms Palaszczuk was involved in a plot to have her sacked after the integrity boss raised concerns about suspicious conduct within the government.

Ms Palaszczuk denies this allegation.

Dr Stepanov said the complaint against her “appears to have originated with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet”.

BOB BRITTAN

Former legal services commissioner Bob Brittan was the third current or former integrity officer to call for an independent inquiry on Friday by emphatically declaring “we’re not making it up”.

The former legal watchdog resigned in 2019 after publicly raising ethical concerns with the recruitment process to fill the role he was acting in.

Bob Brittan urged others to speak up about integrity concerns. Picture: Peter Wallis

Mr Brittan was left shocked after former Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath allowed Queensland’s key legal bodies to help hand-pick their own watchdog despite the fact he had received advice from Dr Stepanov warning that the process was a conflict of interest.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail he urged others to “step up as well” to expose integrity faults within the state government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has had a week to forget. Picture: Adam Head

THE PREMIER: WHAT SHE’S FACED SO FAR

Ms Palaszczuk has faced a grilling about the escalating scandal.

For weeks the Premier refused to comment on a scathing parliamentary report into the CCC and earlier this week refused to launch a probe into her government’s integrity.

On Monday, she enlisted the services of Mr Fitzgerald to investigate the CCC and then instructed her director-general to investigate Mr Summerell’s claims of interference.

She has been reluctant to launch a widespread probe into integrity within the bureaucracy.

By Thursday the Premier appeared visibly exacerbated by the repeated questioning during a heated confrontation with journalists, who she told to “get their facts correct”.