Integrity crisis: Former senior public official claims she was made a scapegoat for exposing flaws in the justice system

A former senior public official is demanding a proper integrity inquiry into the Palaszczuk government so she can reveal the truth, claiming she was made a scapegoat for exposing flaws in the justice system, including a serious offender escaping detention.

A former senior public official, allegedly made a scapegoat for exposing flaws in the justice system that included a serious offender escaping detention, is pleading for a proper integrity inquiry into the Palaszczuk government so she can reveal the truth about her treatment.

In an explosive statement, Vanda Wieczorkowski, director of the Forensic Disability Service in Wacol from April 2015 to June 2019, said she would welcome the opportunity to give evidence to an independent inquiry because Queensland taxpayers deserved answers.

The highly regarded forensic social worker becomes the fourth current or former head of an independent statutory body to call for a broad inquiry to examine the State Government’s growing integrity crisis.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell, outgoing integrity commissioner Nikola Stepanov and former legal affairs commissioner Bob Brittan have all raised concerns of interference.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that prior to Ms Wieczorkowski’s departure in 2019, she wrote a scathing letter to then disability services minister Coralee O’Rourke, alleging interference from the minister’s office and department.

She subsequently wrote to the Premier outlining the same concerns.

In a statement released exclusively to The Courier-Mail yesterday, Ms Wieczorkowski said she supported “a comprehensive, independent inquiry into government integrity and the serious allegations raised in respect of interference in statutory officers’ roles”.

Vanda Wieczorkowski was director of the Forensic Disability Service in Wacol from April 2015 to June 2019. Pics Adam Head

“To ensure this issue is properly addressed, the terms of reference for the inquiry should be broad and encompass the full range of issues raised but not be limited to the current specific allegations.

“I would welcome the opportunity to make a submission or be interviewed for any review or independent inquiry.”

Ms Wieczorkowski said Queenslanders deserved answers.

“I believe Queensland taxpayers are concerned with government integrity problems, and they want to be reassured that serious matters raised by appointed officials are properly investigated and dealt with, to ensure the important roles and functions of all officials, including statutory officers, are carried out as intended.”

Ms Wieczorkowski said due to “confidentiality constraints” she would not comment further at this time.

The Forensic Disability Service is a medium security facility for up to 10 serious alleged offenders deemed of unsound mind or unfit to stand trial.

In a damning August 2019 report, the Queensland Ombudsman found evidence of interference in the service.

“Organisational arrangements imposed by the department did not give effect to the independence of the position of director,” ombudsman Phil Clarke noted.

“Administrative decisions of the department over time have impacted on the capacity of the director to discharge their statutory obligations under the Forensic Disability Act,” Mr Clarke said.

Coralee O'Rourke was grilled over the non-renewal of Ms Wieczorkowski’s contract.

On July 25, 2019, a budget estimates public hearing raised serious concerns about government transparency and community safety following the escape of an FDS detainee while on a supervised community access outing.

Police were called and located the person but the community was not notified of any potential safety risk.

When Ms O’Rourke was asked why not, by then shadow minister Dr Christian Rowan, she declined to answer.

When grilled over the non-renewal of Ms Wieczorkowski’s contract which expired on June 30, Ms O’Rourke said “it could not be assumed that the previous director could meet the demands of the Forensic Disability Service going forward”.

She said Ms Wieczorkowski had stepped up from a lower position and it was her department’s responsibility to ensure it had “the right person in the job”.

Ms O’Rourke later went on to praise the performance of the service, which is designed to rehabilitate and transition people back into the community, calling it a “good news story”.

She said six of the seven detainees had transitioned.

Records show that prior to 2016, a year after Ms Wieczorkowski was hired and five years after the FDS was established, no detainees had transitioned.

In August 2019 Ms Wieczorkowski lodged a citizen’s right of response, subsequently recommended by the Ethics Committee of the Legislative Assembly to be recorded in the July 25 estimates’ proceedings.

In her letter Ms Wieczorkowski said Ms O’Rourke’s comments “had a detrimental impact on my reputation and future career prospects”.

Dr Christian Rowan questioned Coralee O'Rourke over an issue where the community was not notified of any potential safety risk following the escape of an FDS detainee. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“I underwent a recruitment process for the role of director,” she wrote.

“I reject any imputations that I was not suitably qualified. My experience in forensic practice in Australia and the United Kingdom spans some 22 years. I have held numerous senior positions in that time.”

Ms Wieczorkowski said she and her staff had worked tirelessly, successfully transitioning six clients.

The Courier-Mail understands that none of the six has reoffended.

Since at least 2017, records show Ms Wieczorkowski had been campaigning for urgent solutions to problems in the FDS.

In her 2017-18 annual report to the minister, she called for an independent review to address “gaps” in service provision.

Ms Wieczorkowski is widely regarded as a highly professional operator.

In addition to training hundreds of staff in the accountable delivery of forensic programs across Australia, she has presented at international and national conferences.

In 2005 she was part of the corrections team that established the Queensland sex offender program unit and she supervised and mentored staff delivering treatment for people with intellectual disability.

The Courier-Mail was unable to contact Ms O’Rourke but a spokesperson from the disability services department said “Ms Wieczorkowski’s term ended and a new director was appointed”.

When quizzed about the absconding FDS detainee, the spokesperson said “a carer lost sight of a person on supervised release” but “there was no contact with the general community”.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell

Yesterday Ms Palaszczuk said her government needed to do better, after scrutiny over its integrity for the past two weeks.

“I have acknowledged that we need to have confidence in our robust checks and balances – just like every government does,” she said.

She said a 2017 report by former state archivist Mike Summerell – which recommended changes based on his findings from his private email investigation – was due to be released “anytime soon”.

Mr Summerell sparked an investigation by a Queen’s Counsel after he alleged interference in his role and his reports, potentially leading to parliament being misled.

In a separate matter, the Crime and Corruption Commission is looking into whether or not senior public servants in 2021 took a laptop from Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov’s office and deleted its contents.

Dr Stepanov, who will resign in July, has also said the government slashed her funding and staff.

The government denies her further claim that it tried to have her removed.

Meanwhile, former legal affairs commissioner Bob Brittan has alleged an unethical job recruitment process.

Other reviews are looking at whether or not the CCC, the Integrity Commissioner and the Office of the Independent Assessor are fit for purpose.

Ms Palaszczuk ordered a formal inquiry into the CCC last week after a scathing report on its botched probe into Logan Council.

The December report led to the resignation of the corruption watchdog’s chair Alan MacSporran two weeks ago.