Revealed: The bill Karen Webb gave taxpayers for firing four spin doctors

The Police Commissioner’s bill spent on sacking senior executives has grown past $1 million, with the massive costs sparking a review of “separation payments” for highly paid bureaucrats.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s bill spent on sacking senior executives has grown past $1 million, The Daily Telegraph can reveal, after the massive cost sparked Premier Chris Minns to order a review of “separation payments” for highly paid bureaucrats.

Under Ms Webb’s leadership, taxpayers forked out $687,613.40 in termination payments for three top spinners sacked within two years.

The fourth person to lead the NSW Police media unit since Ms Webb was appointed, former journalist Steve Jackson, had his contract terminated last month. He is understood to have been eligible for a separation payment of at least $20,000, taking the total bill to more than $700,000.

Now, the Telegraph can reveal former Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, who many expected to take over as Commissioner when Mick Fuller quit as the state’s top cop, also received a huge separation payment when he was sacked in January 2022.

Mr Willing’s termination payment is understood to have been around $400,000 — taking the total bill for separation payments under Ms Webb to more than $1 million.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb.

Former Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Under the relevant legislation, senior executives can be sacked without cause at any time but receive a healthy golden parachute on their way out: pay equivalent to 38 weeks’ salary.

Mr Minns now wants those payments reviewed.

“I’m concerned with the amount of money that’s going out the door at the moment and that’s why I’ve asked for this review,” the Premier said.

“It’s taxpayer money and I can understand community concern about those separation payments.

“I think that (a review) is appropriate and necessary because these are large amounts of money being handed to senior executives for not doing a job.”

Premier Chris Minns on Sunday.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the government was trying to clamp down on redundancy payments, revealing he would have “more to say” on the issue in this year’s state budget.

“I don’t think it’s wise for us to be immediately paying people out. We should be checking to see whether or not there’s another job for them to go to,” he told the Telegraph.

NSW Police is now on the hunt for a fifth person to lead the force’s public affairs unit for Ms Webb, after former Seven journalist Steve Jackson’s “temporary” appointment was terminated before it began last month.

Mr Jackson was the fourth person appointed as the public affairs branch executive director, after Ms Webb sacked the previous three holders of the role.

The Daily Telegraph has revealed taxpayers were slugged a whopping $687,613.40 in termination payments for three top spinners sacked within two years.

After Ms Webb was appointed, she quickly parted ways with Grant Williams, who had served under former commissioner Mick Fuller.

Former journalist-turned-communications-spinner Alex Hodgkinson then stepped up to serve as Ms Webb’s chief media adviser.

Alex Hodgkinson.

Liz Deegan.

Ms Hodgkinson was in the job for less than a year before being let go, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Liz Deegan was then appointed to the job, becoming the third person in the NSW Police force’s head media adviser role under Ms Webb.

She was dismissed in March.

All three were legally entitled to termination payments equal to 38 weeks’ pay.

Ms Webb has gone through four public affairs branch bosses in two years. Picture: NSW Police

“The total of the termination payments for the three officers is $687,613.40,” Minister Tara Moriarty said in a written answer provided to former cop turned independent MP Rod Roberts on Monday.

Mr Jackson, whose appointment was terminated before he even started in the $300-a-year-plus role, also entitled to a severance package.

He is expected to be paid more than $20,000 without serving a day in the role.

Mr Jackson’s termination last month takes the total termination bill for Ms Webb’s most senior media aides to more than $700,000.

Journalist Steve Jackson’s “temporary” appointment to lead the NSW Police public affairs branch was terminated last month.

Mr Roberts said taxpayers should not have had to pay such an “excessive” amount of money for Ms Webb to fire chief press secretaries.

“I’ve got grave concerns over such an excessive amount of taxpayer money that has been spent, because Karen Webb has tried to blame media advisers for her poor performance,” he said.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be footing a bill like this.”

“I call for Police Minister Yasmin Catley to explain to the public how the Minns government can justify this expenditure,” he said.

In a statement, a NSW Police spokesman said “termination payments are set by legislation”. “No further comment will be provided.”

Ms Catley said the termination payments had nothing to do with her or her office. “These are employment matters for NSW Police,” she said.

Ms Webb’s first adviser Grant Williams.

On Sunday, Mr Minns said it was the “right call” for the NSW Police to terminate Mr Jackson’s appointment before he even started in the role.

“These decisions are for agency heads and they’ve made the decision to not go ahead with that appointment,” he said.

“I think that’s the right call.”

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