Integrity boss’s parting shot over ‘meddling’ in her office

Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov has backed a probe into the Public Service Commission, following complaints it had meddled in her office.

Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov

Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov has backed an independent investigation into the Public Service Commission following complaints it has meddled in her office.

Ms Stepanov, who resigned last Friday, finally issued a statement today to defend the long-considered move, and to stress it was unconnected to Crime and Corruption Commission head Alan MacSporran’s decision days later to resign his post.

But she lobbed a parting shot at the PSC, which is the focus of a continuing CCC investigation into whether it interfered in her independent office when it seized laptops and mobile phones and compromised or deleted public records they contained without her consent.

Ms Stepanov said it was essential there was confidence that the Integrity Commissioner was able to discharge their functions “without undue interference by any person or entity”.

She said it was inappropriate the PSC retains authority over the Integrity Commissioner’s budget, staff and resources because that “creates a potential for conflicts of interest to arise”.

“I understand from media reports yesterday that there have been calls for a formal review or investigation into the way that the PSC has discharged their functions and responsibilities in relation to the office of the Integrity Commissioner in recent times,” she said.

“I support that call.”

A review by Kevin Yearbury into the functions of the Office of the Integrity Commissioner last year recommended the office be separated from the PSC.

Meanwhile, Ms Stepanov also had a parting shot to whoever leaked her resignation to the media.

Ms Stepanov said she had provided a confidential signed notice to the Office of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the office of the director-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, as per her statutory responsibilities.

The Premier must then give notice to the Speaker and Parliamentary Economics and Governance Committee chair, she wrote.

“I understand that details of my confidential notice were provided to the media before the statutory process had been completed,” she said.