‘I’ve listened’: Annastacia Palaszczuk’s backflip on integrity review
After fending off calls for an independent review of her government’s culture and accountability, Annastacia Palaszczuk has had a change of heart.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced she will launch an independent review into the culture and accountability of her government.
The probe follows the Premier consistently fending off calls for an inquiry over the past few weeks despite the opposition pushing for one.
Ms Palaszczuk said the four-month probe will look at six key areas, including the culture of the public sector, interactions between integrity bodies and the public sector, and the laws underpinning the existing ethical framework.
“I want to assure Queenslanders that I have been listening and I’ve listened, and my government absolutely intends to act,” she said.
“This is about culture, accountability, and it’s also about methods of training that may be needed across the whole spectrum of a modern dynamic public service.”
Former QUT vice-chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake has been asked to step forward to look into the culture and accountability in the state‘s public sector with “fresh eyes”.
The professor will focus on system-level reforms and speak with crucial Queensland integrity bodies to determine recommendations.
He is set to deliver an interim report on his findings in April and a final report in June.
Both reviews will “immediately” be made available to the public.
Integrity crusaders have welcomed the inquiry, the first in more than 12 years.
“Look, at the end of the day we need to do this review, we need to this do this review for good government – the last time something like this was done was back in 2009/2010” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The 21st century has brought rapid changes, not least in terms of technology.”
The state government has faced an integrity inferno following the alleged wiping of an Integrity Commission employee’s laptop.
The details came to light in October last year after a massive raid took place in the office of Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov.
The commissioner soon resigned from the job, opening the door for others to come forward and complain about unethical conduct in the public service – including a public statement by former state archivist Mike Summerell who said the Queensland government had no interest in transparency.
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