Complaint about Anne Taylor referred to Crime and Corruption Commission

The Crime and Corruption Commission is understood to have been sent a complaint about a TAIHS board member and government employee.

THE Crime and Corruption Commission is understood to have been sent a complaint about a Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service board member and government employee.

Explosive claims published in the Townsville Bulletin in February outlined a complaint former CEO Dr Stephen Hagan made about board member Anne Taylor.

In a complaint to Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), which was also forwarded to Ms Taylor’s employer the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (CYJMA), Dr Hagan claimed she lobbied other directors against accepting a grant of $500,000 a year over four years for the implementation of electronic monitoring devices on youth.

The Townsville Bulletin understands the complaint has now been forwarded to the CCC, however the body declined to comment.

ORIC did not investigate Dr Hagan’s complaint.

Dr Hagan said that in a board meeting Ms Taylor had said the program was reminiscent of colonial days when Aboriginal people were chained.

The program was brought to the board twice, the first time it was approved – with Ms Taylor voting against it.

In a second meeting, Mr Hagan and two staff members made a presentation to the board, with

Hagan

Ms Taylor not present, about the program.

It was then brought back before the board for a third time when Mr Hagan said the vote was rescinded and the board then voted against being involved in the project.

Mr Hagan was not present for this board meeting, but was later instructed by another person who was not Ms Taylor, via email, to pull out of the contract.

He claimed in his complaint that Ms Taylor had lobbied hard against the program being implemented by TAIHS.

The Bulletin attempted to put the allegations to Ms Taylor in February, but she declined to respond.

When questioned about the complaint, CYJMA told the Townsville Bulletin it could not disclose confidential information relating to employees.

“The department takes all allegations seriously and staff must act in line with the expectations and legislative obligations of the public service,” the CYJMA spokeswoman said.

“Complaints about the conduct of departmental employees are assessed by the department’s Professional Standards unit which, if proven, would either be corrupt conduct or serious misconduct.

“If a matter is assessed as possible corrupt conduct, the matter is referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission in accordance with legislation.”

TAIHS did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Complaint about Anne Taylor referred to Crime and Corruption Commission