‘Substantial concerns’ raised by Integrity Commissioner as Premier makes dramatic about face
The Integrity Commissioner says “substantial concerns” raised by a 2019 review that deemed the oversight of her office by the PSC as inappropriate were never implemented, as the Premier finally apologises to public servants.
QLD Politics
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Annastacia Palaszczuk has finally apologised to public servants who have felt their integrity concerns have been ignored.
In a recognition the integrity crisis is damaging the government politically, on Wednesday the Premier exhibited a dramatic shift in tone and also backed giving the Integrity Commissioner Independence.
It was a dramatic about face from the previous day, when Ms Palaszczuk engaged in a highly combative press conference and challenged reporters on their integrity questions.
On Wednesday, Ms Palaszczuk issued an apology for the first time since the integrity crisis engulfed the government more than two weeks ago.
“There were some people who said that they felt that they weren’t listened to and I apologise if they feel that way,” she said.
“But we absolutely need to make sure that we have absolute confidence and Queenslanders should have confidence in the robust checks and balances that we have.”
The Premier also said “we do acknowledge there are issues, and we are endeavouring to fix them as quickly as possible”, referring to her decision to ask director-general Rachel Hunter to write to all public servants to encourage them to provide frank and fearless advice.
Ms Palaszczuk also backed making the integrity watchdog into an independent office following weeks of questioning, saying: “I don’t have any problem with Kevin Yearbury’s recommendations in relation to the office of the Integrity Commissioner.”
The Yearbury review into the Integrity Commissioner made several recommendations last year including that it be separated from inappropriate Public Service Commission governance.
After on Monday conceding that “some things could’ve been done better” with regards to the government’s handling of integrity allegations from former senior independent officials, Ms Palaszczuk on Tuesday refused to elaborate.
Instead, during a press conference on a surprise trip to Bundaberg, Ms Palaszczuk engaged in a bizarre back-and-forth with a journalist saying “what issues are you talking about?” when asked about the government’s integrity crisis.
“I’m talking about your government’s integrity … (in relation to) the many issues that have been brought up over the past week,” the journalist replied.
Ms Palaszczuk asked: “Such as?”
The Premier’s comments on Wednesday came as Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov said she didn’t know why a separate recommendation from the Premier’s 2019 Bridgeman Review, which deemed the oversight of her office by the PSC as inappropriate, was never implemented.
“The concerns raised by Bridgeman are substantial,” she told The Courier-Mail.
“I have sought on a number of occasions, including prior to the 2019 Bridgeman review, to have appropriate governance arrangements put in place.
“I am unclear why the Bridgeman recommendation was not implemented in 2019, including who made or influenced that decision, and on what basis.”
The Premier’s Department didn’t answer questions concerning the Bridgeman Review and the PSC didn’t respond by deadline.
It comes as John McKenna QC will conduct the review into allegations raised by former State Archivist Mike Summerell including that he was pressured to remove any content that could be perceived negatively in the drafts of two annual reports.
Meanwhile the Premier’s office was unable to explain why the government sought advice from the Crime and Corruption Commission about the release of Mr Summerell’s report into his 2017 Mark Bailey Mangocube investigation.
Mr Summerell has previously said the report, which was handed to a director-general and was not his report to the CCC, detailed recommendations to improve governance and close “loopholes”.
Asked why the watchdog needed to give advice about its release, and when this was expected to be received, a government spokesman said, “We have asked the CCC if we can release the report.”
“The request is with the CCC,” he said.
Mr Bailey was cleared by the corruption watchdog of any wrongdoing in 2017.
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