Premier unaware of ‘nitty gritty’ unit headed by former COS

Steven Miles’s former chief of staff has resigned from a senior role leading a controversial new unit within the public service.

Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Mike Kaiser

• Fired up: ‘I’m no Labor hack’

Steven Miles’s former chief of staff Danielle Cohen has resigned from a senior role leading a controversial new unit within the public service, declaring she did not want to be a distraction for the government.

Ms Cohen was appointed to what the Opposition claims is a taxpayer-funded “political unit” within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

But amid persistent questions about her appointment to the unadvertised role and a lack of a merit-based selection process, Ms Cohen on Sunday afternoon revealed she had told the department’s director-general Mike Kaiser of her intention to quit as associate director-general and return to her previous job at government-owned Stanwell Corporation.

“A week can be a long time … I willingly signed up to the challenge of building a new team, leading a different way of working and wrestling with wicked service delivery challenges,” she said.

“I did not sign up to be a detraction from what I think will ultimately be an important and valuable addition to public administration in Queensland.

“I’ve advised Mike Kaiser today of my intention to return to my substantive position.”

Ms Cohen criticised media coverage of her role change and said LNP claims that the new Implementation Division was a political unit for Mr Miles was “absolute rubbish”.

She said it was established by Mr Kaiser and based on the UK’s “delivery unit” concept pioneered by Sir Michael Barber for the Blair government and successfully replicated by the NSW and South Australian governments to “drive better outcomes for the community”.

“I look forward to seeing what it can do for Queensland,” she said.

Steven Miles with then chief of staff Danielle Cohen during an Economics and Governance Committee estimates hearing at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The creation of the “Implementation Division” within the department by director-general and former Labor operative Mr Kaiser 10 months from the October state election has prompted outrage from the LNP Opposition.

Mr Kaiser last month parachuted Ms Cohen to lead the new division – which is focused on improving government service delivery – without advertising the senior role.

There is no suggestion Ms Cohen or Mr Kaiser are unqualified for their roles, nor is there any suggestion of any wrongdoing by them in relation to their appointments.

Ms Cohen’s resignation comes after Mr Miles continued to face calls to investigate the establishment of the unit within the public service, after earlier insisting he doesn’t get involved in the “nitty gritty” structure of his department.

He denied the new unit was being established quickly with one eye on the October state election.

“I said from the day I was appointed premier that we needed to do more and do it quickly,” he said.

“That pace, you’ve seen me set, but in order to deliver to that pace I need the public service to be fit-for-purpose and that’s what I understand Mike has been trying to do.”

Premier Steven Miles and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon announce another stage of the Homes for Queenslanders housing plan. Picture: David Clark

Ms Cohen’s resignation prompted Mr Miles to slam the LNP for “attacking public servants”.

“I will always stand up for Queensland’s public service and our public servant In my experience they are honest, hard working people,” he said.

“In recent days the LNP has dragged the reputations of some of them through the mud to try to damage me.

“They even confirmed they would have a hit list of public servants they intend to sack if they win the election.

“No merit or process – just sackings.”

Mr Miles said earlier on Sunday he was unaware Mr Kaiser was moving quickly to establish an Implementation Division,

“It’s an internal matter for him, I don’t deal in nitty gritty of the organisational structure of the department,” Mr Miles said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie accused Mr Miles of attempting to “run 100 miles away” from the jobs for mates “scandal”.

“He is creating a deliberate political unit in the Department of Premier and Cabinet,” Mr Bleijie said.

“He knew about the unit and it’s no secret and it’s no coincidence that the one leading the unit was his chief of staff.

“Steven Miles will have everyone believe that he doesn’t know about it – well, walk five metres … knock on Mike Kaiser’s door and ask him about it.”

Mr Kaiser broke his silence to The Sunday Mail to insist he knew the value of an independent public service and declare he was no longer involved in the Labor Party.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, whose office operations are overseen by Mr Kaiser as director-general, said his comments were cold comfort.

“Mike Kaiser is not fit and proper person to be the director-general of Premier and Cabinet, he’s just not,” he said.

“You can’t possibly have an independent public service with somebody who is so compromised and for the premier to have put him into that role shows bad judgment.

“For him (Mr Miles) to try and pretend that there’s some sort of invisible wall between them when they’re joined at the hip, is just a lack of leadership.”

Mr Kaiser has refuted LNP criticism, declaring he understands “my role as an independent public servant” and said he is no longer a member of the Labor Party.

“I value public service independence and consider it a crucial aspect of good government,” he said.

Mr Miles was last week also forced to defend paying former director-general Rachel Hunter to lead a homelessness review just one month after she exited the government with a near $400,000 payout.

Mr Miles acknowledged it was a mistake and said Ms Hunter would undertake the review for free.

There is no suggestion Ms Hunter was not qualified for her role, nor any suggestion she engaged in any wrongdoing.

The saga has overshadowed a week of significant housing policy announcements planned by Mr Miles and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, leaving some Labor MPs to privately lament an early end to the premier’s political honeymoon.

Mr Miles on Sunday, however, insisted ongoing questions about Ms Cohen’s appointment were not distracting to the government’s message.

“I’m not too concerned about it,” he said.

“What I’m concerned about is making sure that we are delivering on the priorities that Queenslanders give us and that’s what I’ve been doing every day.”