Webb opens up on spin doctor appointment; Calls for ICAC to probe Police Minister Yasmin Catley over fiasco

Police Commissioner Karen Webb says security vetting of her newly-appointed media man Steve Jackson is ongoing amid criticism for her poor public performances and media handling.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says security vetting checks on her newly-appointed media spin doctor remain ongoing after she has been repeatedly criticised for her poor public performances and media handling.

The Commissioner was speaking on the surprise appointment of former Seven Network producer Steve Jackson as her chief spin doctor amid calls it should be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

“So when someone is first appointed it’s a baseline check,” Ms Webb said to 2GB’s Ray Hadley on Monday morning.

“What happens after that, the person ticks a box to say that they are happy to have security vetting which is more thorough.

“So we’re in that process now.”

NSW Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, leaves 2GB on Monday after her interview with Ray Hadley. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

It is the first time Commissioner Webb has spoken about the issue since Mr Jackson’s appointment was leaked a week ago.

In a restrained interview with 2GB’s Ray Hadley, the Commissioner admitted she can “certainly do better” in the public arena.

‘I CAN DO BETTER’

“I can improve, and if you look at some of my predecessors, most cops join the police to be in the police, not to be in the media,” she said to Hadley.

“So certainly I can do better and I will, thanks for the opportunity … Mistakes are made, I need to own it on behalf of the organisation.

“That often puts me at odds with other things in the organisation.”

Ms Webb also admitted that she spoke to Yasmin Catley’s chief of staff, Ross Neilson, for advice on who should take the vacant job.

“I asked the minister’s chief of staff, who’s been around in this game for a long time,” Webb explained.

“Ross used to run the police media unit many years ago, so he was an ideal person to ask … he gave me a couple of suggestions and I followed up with Steve (and) interviewed Steve.

“And then we went through a process where we compared his skills against what we were looking for, and so that’s where we’ve landed and how we’ve landed there.”

During the interview, Hadley suggested Webb finds a media adviser in light of criticism she’s received from repeated press blunders.

“The role runs the whole media unit, for the whole police force, the organisation and putting out good stories for all the great work police do,” Webb said.

“That’s the role of the position, it’s not my media adviser, Karen Webb doesn’t have a media adviser but that position is 24/7.

“Can I suggest you get one,” Hadley joked.

“Maybe I need one Ray, maybe I can take some guidance from you,” Webb replied.

It was a restrained interview with 2GB’s Ray Hadley.

CALL FOR ICAC INQUIRY

It comes after furious opposition MPs have called for Police Minister Yasmin Catley to be investigated by the corruption watchdog over the appointment of the new boss of the NSW Police media unit as the links between him and her staff come to light.

Shadow police spokesman Paul Toole said the surprise appointment of former Seven Network producer Steve Jackson as NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s chief spin doctor should be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The two most senior staff in Ms Catley’s office both have personal relationships with Mr Jackson, prompting the opposition to call for the matter to be investigated.

Ms Catley’s chief of staff Ross Neilson is a close friend of Mr Jackson, while another senior member of her team is engaged to a Spotlight producer who was hired to Mr Jackson last year.

The Minister late yesterday refused to go into the detail of how Mr Jackson was selected for the $400,000-a-year role after former media adviser Liz Deegan was axed on March 13, or whether she declared the relationships between her staffers and Mr Jackson when endorsing him to Commissioner Webb.

Steve Jackson was appointed to the position last week.

“The whole employment is shrouded in a cloud of controversy and there are a lot of questions around the process of selecting Mr Jackson for the role that need to be answered,” Mr Toole said.

“Clearly there is a relationship between staffers in Catley’s office and the man appointed as the new media adviser.

“The minister’s office should have no involvement in the appointment of senior public servants.

“This needs to be referred to ICAC.”

Independent MP and former policeman Rod Roberts backed the call for the matter to be referred to the corruption watchdog.

“Catley’s chief of staff Ross Neilson … is Jackson’s close friend. It needs to be investigated by the ICAC.”

A senior police source with knowledge of Mr Jackson’s hiring said he was the only person interviewed for the role.

“There may have been other people’s CV’s put forward … but Jackson is the only one I know of who was actually interviewed,” the senior officer said.

Independent MP Rod Roberts said the Police Minister Catley’s chief of staff, Ross Neilson (pictured), was a “close friend” of Steve Jackson.

There is no suggestion Mr Jackson, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the media, is not qualified for the role.

He is not due to begin in the job until late next month, and Ms Catley yesterday refused to say whether that would still go ahead in light of the controversy surrounding his appointment.

However, it is understood officers from the Security Management Unit are conducting a separate investigation after a series of photographs of Mr Jackson were given to police.

Police are also probing new information claiming Mr Jackson assisted former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach to get a Thai masseuse to reverse a $1000 transaction on a corporate credit in exchange for a cash payment and “a $250 bonus”.

Auerbach had used the credit card to book a massage for former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, without the knowledge of Mr Jackson or the program’s bosses.

“NSW Police Force has been provided with information which is currently being reviewed as part of the employment process,” a spokesperson said.

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