Qld integrity report: Minister face music as Premier sees dentist

With Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk undergoing dental surgery the day after a damning integrity report dropped, it was left to her ministers to face the media.

Senior cabinet ministers have welcomed the findings of Peter Coaldrake’s bombshell report into the Queensland public sector, after the review found public servants were pressured and even bullied by ministerial staff.

With Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk not fronting the media the day after the release of the report due to dental surgery, ministers were peppered with questions while making unrelated announcements on Wednesday.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the Government knew it must do better in the wake of the report, claiming Queensland would lead the country with the reforms.

“We knew that there would be things uncovered in this report, that’s why you undertake reviews. There was going to be recommendations and there would need to be changes,” she said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath yesterday. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We take responsibility for the fact that we know we need to do better.

“As the Premier has put out in a statement (Tuesday) night, we are accepting these lock stock and barrel.

“These are significant changes, and this will lead the country in relation to reforms.”

Ms D’Ath was questioned on the issue of bullying, after Prof Coaldrake noted in his report public servants had found personal interactions with Minister and ministerial staff to be “disrespectful, belittling, or bullying”.

“Public servants should be acknowledged for the great work they do and there should be processes in place to make sure they are respected and there is a good culture,” she said.

“We are the largest employer across the state, the public service, and of course that means there will be issues from time to time.

“But there needs to be a very clear message that bullying or intimidation is not acceptable by anyone, at any level.”

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said she and her Cabinet colleagues took responsibility for the culture in government.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman

“Culture starts at the top, and that’s why our Premier took the step to call Peter Coaldrake for an expert independent review into the culture of the public service and how our integrity bodies are working.

“I am just really excited about what this will mean for Queensland.

“We are going to be the government in this country that has the strongest, the most transparent and accountable systems and I’m really proud that our Premier called this review and she’s now accepted the recommendations and on Monday it will all go to Cabinet and we’ll get on with the job of implementing the recommendations.”

Asked whether the Government now admitted that lobbyists working on the 2020 election campaign was a misjudgment, Ms Fentiman said the Government had accepted Prof Coaldrake’s recommendation regarding lobbying.

She said Prof Coaldrake’s recommendations were bold and visionary.