Qld integrity crisis: Annastacia Palaszczuk calls independent probe

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has formally announced a four-month probe into the culture and accountability of her Government after weeks of complaints by independent bodies of political interference.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will call a wide-ranging, independent review into the culture and accountability of her Government in a major win for integrity crusaders.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Ms Palaszczuk will on Friday announce a four-month probe into the treatment of integrity bodies by public servants and ministers, the adequacy of laws policing integrity standards, and how ethics and integrity complaints are dealt with.

It comes after weeks of political pressure and complaints by independent bodies of political interference, and claims by Ms Palaszczuk that an independent review wasn’t necessary.

But the Premier on Thursday told The Courier-Mail periodic reviews were good for governments.

She has appointed former QUT vice-chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake to lead the investigation, and asked him to look at system-level reforms.

He will deliver an interim report in just two months, and a final report in four months.

Both will immediately be made public.

“It is always good to look at things with fresh eyes,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The 21st century has brought rapid changes, not least in terms of technology.

“We need to address that.

“People deserve a government that is fit for purpose, geared to their needs and focused on them.

“I welcome this independent review and look forward to Professor Coaldrake’s findings.”

She said his recommendations would build on Peter Bridgeman’s 2019 review of public sector employment laws.

Annastacia Palaszczuk

Peter Coaldrake

Ms Palaszczuk said the latest review would have the power to make system-wide changes across six key areas that include:

* The culture of the public service in ensuring ethical decision making and impartial advice to the government.

* Interactions between integrity bodies, the public service and the government.

* Legislation underpinning the existing ethics and integrity framework.

* The adequacy of systems to prevent ethical, accountability and integrity issues arising.

* The adequacy of ethics training and communication and relevant policies.

* Time taken to resolve ethical and integrity complaints.

Prof Coaldrake, who undertook a public service review in 2018, will be able to request additional expertise to assist him, and will be able to commission his own research if he decides.

He will consult with key Queensland integrity bodies and any others he determines to speak with but will focus on system-level reforms rather than the resolution of individual conflicts.

Demands for an independent review have dogged the Queensland Government for weeks, initially sparked last October when The Courier-Mail revealed an extraordinary raid on the office of Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov and claims of interference by the Public Sector Commission.

Further details came to light in the past month following her resignation from the job, including that the laptop the commission seized from her office and allegedly wiped had been the subject of requests for a forensic audit due to concerns around the mistreatment of confidential documents.

Mike Summerell

Nikola Stepanov

They included highly sensitive forms related to conflicts of interest held by ministers and the state’s most senior public servants.

She also complained staff had been removed from her office until she was unable to do her job providing integrity advice to politicians and public servants and overseeing lobbying.

Dr Stepanov’s public comments have seen a stream of others come forward with their own complaints of unethical conduct, including former state archivist Mike Summerell who was charged with the “mangocube” email investigation of minister Mark Bailey in 2017.

He delivered a scathing public statement to The Courier-Mail three weeks ago in which he described the inner workings of the State Government, driven by a culture in which public servants protected the Government from embarrassment and MPs had no interest in transparency.

Former legal services commissioner Bob Brittan then spoke out to back a review, arguing he and his former colleagues were “not making it up” in regards to unethical conduct observed.

Former director of Wacol’s forensic disability service Vanda Wieczorkowski became the fourth when she welcomed the opportunity to give evidence about her own treatment and experiences of political interference.

At the same time, other independent heads have been arguing for greater funding and greater independence to help them do their jobs properly, including Auditor-General Brendan Worrell, Information Commissioner Rachael Rangihaeata and Councillor Conduct Tribunal president June Anstee.

Mr Coaldrake’s terms of reference state the Queensland Government was commencing the review “to refresh its focus on culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector”.

Vanda Wieczorkowski

Bob Brittan