Qld integrity crisis: Coaldrake’s bombshell integrity report

The long-awaited integrity report into the Queensland Government has dropped, with 14 bombshell recommendations for overhauling the culture.

Lobbyists would be banned from operating as political campaigners and parliamentary committees given more power to maintain the independence of integrity bodies under bombshell recommendations contained in the Coaldrake review.

The long-awaited review by Professor Peter Coaldrake, dubbed ‘Let the Sunshine In’, includes 14 recommendations which he said “aspires to influence a cultural shift which encourages openness from the top”.

He has called for the “rejuvenation” of the public service amid damning findings into its culture – noting bureaucrats can feel “pressured” by ministerial staff or senior officers to tailor advice to suit the government’s agenda.

“Personal interactions with some ministers and ministerial staff, and indeed some senior officers, can be disrespectful, belittling, or bullying, and long-term detriment to careers real or apprehended,” he noted.

Prof Coaldrake attributes part of the government’s integrity issues to an “identifiable loss of capacity in the public service” through its “overreliance on external contractors and consultants”.

“All of these matters are compounded by a culture too tolerant of bullying, unwilling to give life to unfashionable points of view and dominated by the occupational hazard of all governments, short-term political thinking,” he said.

“This has become ever more frustrating for the community.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today. Picture: Paul Beutel

Prof Coaldrake received 327 submissions and held almost 100 meetings.

He has also called for parliamentary committees to set the funding of integrity agencies, arguing it would “strengthen” their independence.

The Coaldrake review also urges the government to ban lobbyists acting as political campaigners, and singles out the 2020 election when “the two largest lobby groups worked on the government’s re-election campaign”.

That recommendation goes further than Ms Palaszczuk’s announcement on Monday.

Prof Coaldrake wrote that the appearance of “guiding a political party to office one week” before acting on behalf of a client “naturally raises suspicion which cannot be remedied by promises to impose ‘Chinese walls’.”

“Most people would be incredulous at the proposition that a lobbyist working with a political leader in one capacity cannot later exercise special influence,” he wrote.

“A sound approach would be for political parties and the lobbying firms themselves to recognise the damage to confidence in the system that arises from a willingness to create such conflicts.”

Prof Coaldrake wants the Auditor-General to audit the lobbying register, ministerial diaries and public records to ensure they are being complied with.

Prof Coaldrake notes concerns about the trivialising of parliamentary committees, lack of independence by integrity bodies or lack of clarity about decision making can be reversed “by a commitment to openness, supported by accountability”.

“Any good government, clear in purpose and open and accountable in approach, should have fewer integrity issues,” he said.

Prof Coaldrake has also called for more transparent Cabinet processes and the “proactive release” of documents within 30 business days.

“The proactive release of Cabinet documents would be an important signal, from the very top, of an open and pro-disclosure culture,” he notes.

Prof Coaldrake also slammed the poor effort to strengthen political accountability, declaring the “ambition to modernise the operations of the parliament have run out of their mainly post-Fitzgerald steam”.

In line with her previous commitment, the Premier on Tuesday night vowed to accept all of Prof Coaldrake’s recommendations.

“I welcome and embrace Professor Coaldrake’s review,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I wouldn’t have asked him to do it if I didn’t want reform.

“We will accept all of his recommendations.

“They are bold, they are comprehensive and they are visionary and they are exactly what I want.

“Once implemented Queensland will have the most transparent and accountable government in Australia.

“The report will go to Cabinet on Monday and we will begin work on implementing these sweeping reforms lock, stock and barrel.”

Professor Peter Coaldrake

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The independence of the position of the Auditor-General be strengthened, extending its scope and according it status as an Officer of the parliament.

2. Cabinet submissions (and their attachments), agendas, and decisions papers be proactively released and published online within 30 business days of such decisions.

3. Lobbying regulation be strengthened through a requirement to register all professionals offering paid lobbying services for third parties, more transparent description of meeting purposes, extension of ministerial diaries to include staff meetings with lobbyists and explicit prohibition of lobbyists “dual hatting” as political campaigners.

4. Development and continual reinforcement of a common framework to determine appropriate relationships among ministers, their staff and senior public service officers. The tone set at the top is essential.

5. The rejuvenation of the capability and capacity of the Queensland public sector be a major and concerted focus. This should emphasise a culture of performance and integrity. The Public Service Commission must accept its key role.

6. Establishment of a single clearing house for complaints, with capacity for the complainants and agencies to track progress and outcomes. Technology enablement and proper training of staff will be critical.

7. The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) to avail itself of the opportunity provided by the clearing house and the other cultural changes prompted by this Review to redouble its attention on serious corruption and major crime.

8. Those complaints against senior public sector employees which the CCC devolves must include ongoing oversight by the Public Service Commission and an independent Director-General.

9. Departments more robustly account for the benefits derived from engaging consultants and contractors, with regular monitoring by the Auditor-General.

10. Citizens’ privacy rights be protected by implementation of mandatory reporting of data breaches.

11. Whistleblowers be protected by the Government immediately activating its promised review of Public Interest Disclosure legislation.

12. Integrity bodies’ independence be enhanced by involvement of parliamentary committees in setting their budgets and contributing to key appointments.

13. The Ombudsman be provided with the authority to investigate complaints against private organisations carrying out functions on behalf of the government.

14. Stability of government and performance of public service be strengthened by appointment of agency CEOs (including Directors-General) on fixed term, five year contracts, unaligned to the electoral cycle.