NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb sacks media chief after criticism for press performances

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb delegated the job of firing her right-hand adviser to one of her deputies in Sydney, while she was at a meeting of police chiefs in Melbourne.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb delegated the job of firing her right-hand adviser to one of her deputies in Sydney, while she was at a meeting of police chiefs in Melbourne.

Liz Deegan is understood to have been blindsided by her sacking as executive director of public affairs when she turned up for work on Wednesday morning, less than a year after Commissioner Webb handpicked her for the role last April.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal despite being the top cop’s most senior unsworn aide, Commissioner Webb had Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith – the former News Corp editor’s direct report – tell Ms Deegan her services were no longer required.

When asked about the decision, a NSW Police spokesperson said: “The appropriate processes were followed on this matter. The NSWPF Public Affairs branch reports to the Deputy Commissioner, Corporate Services”.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has sacked her most senior media adviser. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Liz Deegan, who only joined Commissioner Webb’s team last April, departed on Wednesday.

Commissioner Webb is now faced with trying to hire a fourth top media adviser in little more than two years amid intense scrutiny for her media performances after serving police officer Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged over the alleged double murder of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.

Sources said Ms Deegan’s departure was approved by members of the Minns government, who saw it as a preferable option to sacking the state’s first female top cop or Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

When asked about the decision on Wednesday, Premier Chris Minns said Commissioner Webb still had his support.

“I think she does an excellent job… as it (Ms Deegan’s sacking) relates to personnel management, I would leave that up to the public service and those that run those individual departments,” he said.

Commissioner Webb was widely criticised last month for taking four days to front the media over the deaths of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird – despite serving officer Lamarre-Condon allegedly killing them with his police firearm.

When she did finally face a press conference she left most of the talking to her Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson, before bristling at reporters who questioned why she had taken so long to front up.

In response she went on a media blitz, but that only led to further scrutiny when on Channel 7’s Sunrise she quoted a Taylor Swift song in response to a question about criticism of her media performances, saying: “Haters like to hate”.

Criticism over the alleged Paddington double murder was almost a case of deja vu for Commissioner Webb, having similarly come under fire last May following the death of 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland in a Cooma nursing home – again allegedly at the hands of a serving police officer. Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, will plead not guilty to manslaughter when he faces trial next month.

Commissioner Webb has been criticised in recent weeks for her media performance following the deaths of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The Commissioner was initially criticised for taking time to face the media in the wake of the incident, before accusations were also made of an attempted cover-up by the force, which were denied.

Ms Deegan came under fire for her role in that incident, with emails released under freedom of information showing she had deleted key details from a draft media release, including mentions of a Taser allegedly being used and the fact that dementia patient Ms Nowland was holding a knife.

An email to all 20,000 police officers across NSW encouraging them to be involved in discussions about an upcoming bargaining and pay agreement added unnecessary pressure last week.

That email angered the NSW Police Association who accused Commissioner Webb of “attempting to subvert” industrial relations laws, resulting in her issuing an apology.

Ms Deegan’s departure means it is the third time the state’s top cop has lost her most senior media adviser, since taking the top job in early 2022.

First she parted company with Grant Williams, who was executive director of public affairs and adviser to former Commissioner Mick Fuller, and then she moved on Alex Hodgkinson who stepped up to advise her after Mr Williams’ departure.

Sworn police officer Kirsty Hayward is set to take over the job as fill-in from Monday.

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