Premier Peter Malinauskas confronted over public sector power struggles with Rik Morris

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been confronted with accusations of top-level power struggles between public service chiefs and the right-hand man he wants to “ruffle feathers”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been confronted with accusations of top-level power struggles between public service chiefs and the right-hand man he wants to “ruffle a few feathers”.

The Opposition claims there are “significant power struggles” between the Premier’s Delivery Unit (PDU), spearheaded by $361,000-a-year chief Rik Morris, that are “sometimes resulting in the politicisation of government agencies”.

But Mr Malinauskas told Budget estimates on Thursday morning that Mr Morris’s job was “to ruffle a few feathers” and he “probably doesn’t ruffle feathers as much as I’d like”.

In a wide ranging examination, Mr Malinauskas also said $600-an-hour adviser Peter Hanlon was not paid by the PDU in the 2023/24 financial year and lamented the ageing nature of his Victoria Square headquarters.

Premier Peter Malinauskas in state parliament. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Mr Malinauskas said the PDU was “an extension of me in some respects, answering to me directly” and was responsible for ensuring election promises were delivered and not bogged down in bureaucracy.

Asked by Opposition Leader David Speirs if he had personally intervened in public sector power struggles to get things done, Mr Malinauskas he was not aware of “any specific power struggles that are debilitating in nature”.

“The PDU’s job is to ruffle a few feathers if things aren’t going the way that are consistent with my expectations,” he said.

“Now knowing the CEO and having observed his style, he probably doesn’t ruffle feathers as much as I might like.”

Opposition Leader David Speirs in state parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Mr Speirs later demanded Mr Malinauskas “guarantee that the PDU is appropriately engaging with public servants at all times”.

“Multiple sources have told the Opposition that there is concern that the Premier’s Delivery Unit is sometimes resulting in the politicisation of government agencies,” Mr Speirs told The Advertiser.

“It is important that governments of any persuasion deliver on their election commitments but it’s critical that public servants are protected from political interference.”

Mr Malinauskas said moving the Premier’s headquarters from Victoria Square’s State Administration Centre would probably have to happen at some point, which Mr Speirs said would “probably get bipartisan support in some form”.

But the Premier said funding had not been allocated for relocating staff to a second Festival Plaza tower, north of Parliament House, or anywhere else.

Premier Peter Malinauskas in his office at the State Administration Centre. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Malinauskas said most other government offices were “well and truly superior” to the building housing his department and treasury.

“It’s an old building. Where we park our cars out the back like it feels like there’s a permanent line-up of Rawsons Electrical vehicles or things ,” he said.

“The lifts seem to be having to get repaired every five minutes. You know, it’s just an old building. Someone’s going to have to do it eventually (relocate the offices), and how that works, I don’t know.

“I think there’s been some options looked at but there has been for years, as I understand it. But no decisions have been made.”

Originally published as Premier Peter Malinauskas confronted over public sector power struggles with Rik Morris