Swift sacking of minister ahead of landmark review of NSW parliament culture

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet insists he had no choice but to sack one of his ministers amid serious bullying allegations as he prepares for the release of a landmark review into workplace culture in parliament.

Perrottet said the review by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, to be handed down next week, highlighted the need to act swiftly on complaints of misconduct to ensure people feel safe at work.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said he had no choice but to sack Eleni Petinos as a minister.Credit: Brook Mitchell

“What I have seen and heard from that report, I’m concerned about. Not just allegations that have been made in relation to workplace environments, in the parliament,” he said on Monday.

“But most concerning to me … is the fact that many people do not feel comfortable in lodging complaints or coming forward for fear of repercussions for them and their future profession.”

The premier on Monday held up the coming Broderick report as a strong influence on his decision to sack Miranda MP Eleni Petinos as the minister for small business and fair trading.

“I formed the view that if there was any possibility at all that there was an unsafe workplace that I had to take action,” he said. “I cannot be in a position as premier where a ministerial staffer or a member of the public service … in an office does not feel safe.”

Sacked fair trading minister Eleni Petinos.Credit: Wolter Peeters

The premier announced the snap dismissal of Petinos from his ministry in a statement on Sunday evening, following allegations of serious bullying.

He expressed confidence in the junior minister only two days earlier, after media reports claimed she berated staff with offensive language including the words “retarded” and “stupid”, triggering a mass exodus from her office. Petinos has rejected the allegations.

By Sunday, Perrottet said he had no choice but to cut her from his cabinet. He said he was unable to disclose further details about the nature of the allegation, but urged the public to trust his judgment, which was informed by “new information” from a senior bureaucrat.

“I will always do what I believe is the principled and the right thing … if I deviate from that, I may as well not be in this role,” he said.

“It is very clear … particularly in ministerial environments, in government environments, that people do not feel comfortable in lodging complaints and coming forward. That has become very apparent.”

In May, the Perrottet government developed its Respectful Workplace Policy, which states “zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct”.

The policy applies to any activity associated with the ministerial office workplace, following a confronting review by former sex discrimination commissioner and former NSW minister Pru Goward.

Goward’s review last year found political ambition, loyalty to ministers and tenuous employment left ministerial staff reluctant to report bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

Perrottet said ministerial offices had already implemented a number of training programs and established improved processes for complaints in response to the Goward review, which was described by then-premier Gladys Berejiklian as “brutal”.

“When it comes to the handling of complaints in the workplace, it is incredibly important that we allow for anonymous complaints to be made,” he said.

“And whilst it’s difficult … I could not, after the discussions I had yesterday and the information that I received yesterday, feel comfortable that the office environment and actions taken by [Petinos] were appropriate in keeping with a safe environment.”

In a statement on Sunday, Petinos said she was proud of her work as a minister and would continue advocating for small business.

“I would never intentionally offend anyone or make them feel uncomfortable, and if I did I am truly sorry,” she said.

Labor on Monday called for the premier to explain the circumstances that led to Petinos’ dismissal.

“At the end of the day, the sacking of a minister of a Crown is a big deal in the life of the political history of this state. It deserves an explanation from the NSW premier,” Opposition Leader Chris Minns said.

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