Qld integrity report: Labor MP calls for complainants to be exposed

The state Opposition have called for a government backbencher to be sacked after he queried whether bullied public servants had an anti-Labor agenda and called for those who complained to the Coaldrake review to be named.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been urged to sack an assistant minister who called for bullied whistleblowers to be identified.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the position of Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders, the government’s Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, was “untenable” after he called for submitters to the Coaldrake review to be named and any “anti-Labor” bias to be identified.

“The comments from the Member for Maryborough, who is an assistant minister in this government are a disgrace, they are bullying, they are intimidatory, they are the actions of a thug,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“If he is still an assistant minister by close of business today that shows everything you need to know about a Premier who has checked out and no longer leads the state the way it must.

“You can’t have cultural change when you have people blaming whistleblowers.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders.

The Coaldrake review included anonymous submissions by current and former public servants who lifted the lid on a culture of bullying, belittling and intimidation within the public sector – and noted information was often kept under wraps by Right to Information officers.

Mr Saunders dismissed the review while speaking on a Fraser Coast radio station.

He said Ms Palaszczuk had committed to adopting the recommendations of the review and dismissed public servants who confidentially raised concerns with Prof Coaldrake.

“It’s personal, by the way,” Mr Saunders claimed. 

“I’d like to see the names of those 14 submitters because I think there’d be a few of those submitters who are anti-Labor.

“That’s my personal opinion.”

The third-term Labor MP said he had “never encountered that kind of behaviour” and declared he was more focused on delivering for his electorate.

The comments were earlier seized on by Opposition Integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson, who described Mr Saunders as a “poster boy of what not to do”.

“This is exactly the rotten culture of bullying and intimidation identified in the Coaldrake report,” she said.

“These standover tactics is what needs to be called out and stamped out.

“This behaviour is disgraceful and must be condemned.”

Speaking to The Courier-Mail, Mr Saunders hit back at the Opposition and said his comments were made because he was “curious of these people making allegations”.

Mr Saunders noted former ministerial staffer Neil Doorley was assisting the LNP and questioned if other public servants were supportive of one side of politics.

Mr Saunders questioned: “Is there an anti-Government agenda to make the Government look bad?

“As far as I’m concerned this has been a very, very good Government.”

The MP also insisted he had never witnessed bullying of public servants in his role as an assistant minister.

Prof Coaldrake called for the “rejuvenation” of the public sector and declared political and professional leaders needed to demonstrate a culture of integrity and mutual respect.

“Senior professional staff and ministers need to set the example, to be willing to address breaches, and to support ongoing training and discussion of the issue,” he wrote.

Mr Saunders said he would not step down.

“It will never happen,” he said. “I will not stand down in any way, shape or form.”

He described Mr Crisafulli as “full of hot air”.

“(Crisafulli) was part of a Cabinet that killed manufacturing in our city and sent trains offshore.

“I’m standing firm in my position. He’s just an angry little man trying to make a name for himself.”

Mr Saunders said Mr Crisafulli should worry about his own profile and what was happening within his own party.

“Everywhere I go, they say ‘David who?’” he said.

Mr Saunders said he had “heard rumblings” Mr Crisafulli was at risk of being replaced as Opposition leader and that some were not happy with his performance, urging the Broadwater MP to focus on his own position.