Qld integrity crisis: Top bureaucrats disagree on mediation
The Public Service Commission boss has agreed to mediation with the Integrity Commissioner, who has rejected it as “not appropriate”.
QLD Politics
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Public service boss Rob Setter has agreed to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s offer of mediation with the woman who alleged he called her a “bitch on a witch hunt”.
But Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov rejected the suggestion as “not appropriate” as the Opposition called on the Premier to apologise for her “ill-informed” workplace fix.
Ms Palaszczuk’s comments that the pair “get in a room”, work out their differences and get back to work dominated parliament on Tuesday as domestic violence advocates slammed the suggestions as dismissive and harmful to other complainants.
It came as another public spat emerged between the two senior officials, this time over whether they had previously agreed to mediation 12 months ago.
Both parties yesterday agreed to release emails sent between them that allegedly highlight workplace concerns, and a request by Dr Stepanov for mediation that would give greater insight into events last March – around the time a laptop containing sensitive information was taken from her office by the Public Service Commission and wiped without her knowledge. But the emails were not provided by the PSC by deadline.
Mr Setter, who has rejected ever referring to Dr Stepanov with misogynistic language, also denied rejecting a request for mediation and said he was “happy to release emails between us” on the matter between March 7 and 9, 2021, “with the Integrity Commissioner’s agreement”.
Mr Setter said he strongly believed workplace mediation could be an effective tool to resolve complex issues and would “welcome the opportunity” to organise an independent mediator now, specifically to discuss “governance issues”.
“At no point did I ‘rebuff’ the Integrity Commissioner, as Dr Stepanov has indicated to the media, and at no point have I rejected an approach by the Queensland Integrity Commissioner for mediation,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“I have previously agreed to mediation with the Integrity Commissioner in relation to governance issues. I remain committed to mediation on those issues.”
He said he understood there was an offer of an independent mediator to look into the issues raised Monday “and I welcome the opportunity”.
Dr Stepanov said it was a matter for Mr Setter whether he released the emails, but they should be released “in full” from March 4-9, 2021.
“I had requested mediation with Mr Setter via Mr Dave Stewart, the former Director-General DPC (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) last year by email on Monday, 8 March, 2021. I was rebuffed by Mr Setter that day,” she had earlier said.
Dr Stepanov said she had never been given a reason why mediation had not occurred. She said both her request and Mr Setter’s response were via email and that Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Rachel Hunter was aware.
“I note that there are ongoing CCC investigations into matters relating to the PSC and my office,” she said.
“Those matters would have formed part of a mediation had the mediation occurred at that time (March 2021).
“In my view, it is not appropriate for there now to be mediation about matters which are material to active investigations.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Ms Palaszczuk’s comments that the pair “get in a room” was an “absolute disgrace”.
“We are calling on the Premier to immediately retract her statement and encourage victims of misogynistic workplace bullying to follow the correct protocol to ensure all women can feel safe and supported in the workplace,” he said.
Ms Palaszczuk faced a Question Time dominated by questions on the appropriateness of her response.
“We want to await the outcome of the CCC. I understand it has matters before it,” she said in answer to a question on whether she was protecting a “bully”.
“Also let me say this – and I said it clearly in my opening answer to the Leader of the Opposition and I said it at the press conference yesterday – where there are workplace issues, and it happens in any workplace, there are avenues available for a mediator to come in.
“These are very serious issues. That is why the director-general is more than happy to organise an independent mediator to look into these issues.”
Hearts of Purple chief executive Michelle Beattie said “no victim should ever be told to get in a room with their alleged perpetrator” to “sort it out” and called on Ms Palaszczuk to retract her statement.
“In our view, the Premier’s comments are damaging and could deter women from coming forward if they are the victim of workplace misogyny,” she said.
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