Scanlon’s pick: Housing Minister ‘recommended’ former top bureaucrat

Steven Miles has admitted it was a “mistake” to rehire former director-general Rachel Hunter weeks after a massive golden handshake – but blamed his Housing Minister for the suggestion amid explosive allegations of “jobs for mates” in the public sector.

Premier Steven Miles has admitted it was a “mistake” to rehire former director-general Rachel Hunter weeks after a massive golden handshake – but blamed his Housing Minister for the suggestion amid explosive allegations of “jobs for mates” in the public sector.

Mr Miles this week faced serious questions over politicising the public service amid another shock revelation that his former chief of staff Danielle Cohen was recruited by top bureaucrat Mike Kaiser to “improve service delivery”.

Pressure is increasing on Mr Miles over a string of appointments to senior positions of people with Labor links – but there are no accusations the appointees are underqualified.

The LNP will seize on the matter, declaring a jobs-for-mates crisis.

On Friday, Mr Miles admitted he should have realised the hiring of Ms Hunter “wasn’t going to be a good look”.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NcaNewsWire

“Meaghan said to me that the sector would like a review, and I said I would support a review,” he said.

“She said that she thought Rachel would be supported to do that review by the sector – and I took her advice.

“I’m willing to acknowledge that at some stage during that process, I should have realised that it wasn’t going to be a good look. We should have either clarified sooner that it would be pro bono, or identified someone else who could do that review. So that’s a mistake that I’ve made. We’re doing a lot and sometimes we’ll make mistakes. And when I do, I will acknowledge it.”

Asked whether there was a perception the government was dishing out “jobs for mates”, the Premier said he “didn’t see it that way when we discussed it, but maybe I should have”.

Queensland Director-General Rachel Hunter during the State Parliament Estimates in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Courier-Mail is not suggesting Ms Cohen or Ms Hunter were not qualified for the jobs.

Ms Cohen was this week parachuted in as associate director-general in the Department of Premier and Cabinet from the government-owned energy corporation Stanwell to implement policies and improve service delivery.

In a statement late yesterday, Mr Kaiser, the Department of Premier and Cabinet Director-General, sensationally revealed he handpicked Ms Cohen for the newly created role, declaring she was required because the government was unable to improve the delivery of services.

“I have long believed a crucial aspect of central agency responsibility is to be involved in the improvement of service delivery outcomes, not just policy formulation,” Mr Kaiser said.

Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NcaNewsWire

“However, that capability does not currently exist.

“I asked Stanwell, Danielle Cohen’s current public sector employer, to enter into a temporary mobility agreement to allow Danielle to assist in the establishment, from scratch, of a new unit to undertake this work.”

Mr Kaiser said the request was made based on “my experience of her capability” and said he was always motivated “to create opportunity and make a difference for people”.

The bombshell claim is expected to rile the public service.

One political expert said the decision was extremely “bad optics” and suggested Mr Miles should rescind the appointment to save face, while LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie accused the government of “giving cushy jobs to Labor mates”.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli, hold a news conference outside Parliament House in Brisbane pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

In a scathing attack on Mr Miles, Mr Bleijie accused the government of violating Professor Peter Coaldrake’s integrity review with a string of appointments, saying Professor Coaldrake had warned of a “bad culture within the public service because of political appointments”.

“The Labor government is rotting before our eyes; we’ve seen it this week alone – the corruption risks by appointing Labor mates to key positions, giving cushy jobs to Labor mates,” he said. “I would be very keen to see what the Crime and Corruption Commission would have to say about this.”

Asked whether Professor Coaldrake – whose integrity review stated the confidence in recruitment processes contributed to the perceptions of fairness – would take issue with the scenarios involving Ms Hunter, Ms Cohen and Mr Kaiser, the Premier said “you’d have to ask him”.

“But I think Professor Coaldrake would also support ­public service mobility arrangements that allow people to move across departments to do different roles,” he said.