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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk vows to adopt all findings from integrity review

Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed to accept any recommendations made in Professor Peter Coaldrake’s review of the public service – even if a Royal Commission is suggested – after labelling the bombshell observations in his interim report as “interesting”.

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Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed to accept any recommendations made by Professor Peter Coaldrake in his review of the public service – labelling the bombshell observations in his interim report as “interesting”.

The Premier responded to the report for the first time on Thursday, acknowledging the government could always do better at training staff across the public service and in ministerial offices.

She also insisted she did not need to be protected by anyone after Professor Coaldrake suggested public servants were appearing to take it upon themselves to shield Ministers from exposure to inconvenient issues.

With his final report to be handed down in May, Ms Palaszczuk confirmed she would implement any recommendations he might make, even if a Royal Commission was suggested – something the LNP has repeatedly called for.

“He (Professor Coaldrake) made some very interesting observations and ones that our government of course takes very seriously,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Any recommendations that he makes we will look very closely at.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture Lachie Millard
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture Lachie Millard

The interim report included accusations that an unnamed director-general took steps to prevent a report from reaching the ears of a Minister, so that the Minister could continue to plausibly deny knowledge of the matter.

Asked about the issue on Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk said reports should be “free flowing” and that they should be going to Ministers.

“I don’t know who that director-general is. Of course he (Professor Coaldrake) is conducting confidential conversations,” she said.

“If at some stage he would like to talk to my director-general about who that is, I’m quite sure that they will be counselled.”

Another observation was that senior public servants were appearing to take it upon themselves to assume that Ministers would want to be protected from exposure to problematic issues.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday stressed that she did not need to be protected by anyone, saying: “I’m quite capable of standing on my own two feet.”

“And I think the Treasurer and the Deputy Premier are quite capable of standing on their own two feet,” she said.

“What we can always do better at is I think training across the public service and training across ministerial offices.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said if the Premier genuinely believed in being open and transparent, she would call a Royal Commission.

“Leadership is about action. The Premier shouldn’t need another voice to convince her to do the obvious and call a Royal Commission today.”

Read related topics:Integrity crisis

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/premier-annastacia-palaszczuk-vows-to-adopt-all-findings-from-integrity-review/news-story/67401de44b8c057e251eef4124fc7cb4