Lawyer launches explosive legal action against Labor government, parole board
A senior Queensland parole board lawyer has launched legal action claiming she was pushed out of her job after accusing a colleague of pressuring a judge into burying a contentious judgment.
A senior Queensland parole board lawyer has launched explosive legal action claiming she was pushed out of her job after accusing a colleague of corruptly pressuring a Supreme Court judge into burying a judgment.
Louise Benjamin, who was acting director of legal services at the parole board, alleges that managers at the authority, including acting president Julie Sharp, retaliated against her for making a whistleblower complaint.
Ms Benjamin alleged a Supreme Court judge was successfully influenced by staff at the parole board not to publish a judgment that made critical commentary on a legal officer.
She has launched legal action in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission against the state Labor government and senior members of the parole board, including Ms Sharp, over the alleged reprisal.
Details of the case have been shrouded in secrecy, with the QIRC issuing suppression orders on the court file after The Australian made a formal application for documents last month.
Ms Benjamin’s allegations are the latest integrity crisis to hit the parole board, which decides whether prisoners are fit for release, with the authority’s inaugural president, Michael Byrne, resigning in June after he was referred to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog over travel allowance misuse.
The Australian can reveal Ms Sharp was already facing legal action and formal complaints to the Corrective Services Department’s ethical standards unit when the Labor government appointed her as Mr Byrne’s temporary replacement.
It was understood Ms Benjamin had also written to Premier Steven Miles and Corrective Services Minister Nikki Boyd about the alleged reprisal she had suffered before Ms Sharp was asked to act in the role.
Revelations that Ms Boyd allowed Ms Sharp to act as parole board president when she was the subject of whistleblower reprisal complaints will heap fresh pressure on the junior Labor minister, who has been the target of political attacks over her handling of Mr Byrne’s resignation.
Sources have told The Australian Ms Benjamin made the “public interest disclosure”, which initiates a formal process in handling allegations of wrongdoing in the public service, in April 2022.
Her original complaint alleges that senior parole board lawyer Lisa Hendy influenced a Supreme Court judge to bury a decision on whether to grant a prisoner parole.
The Australian understands Ms Benjamin made a complaint to the Corrective Services Department’s ethical standards unit alleging that her access to court files and systems required to do her job was revoked in August 2022 after she made the initial PID and referred the allegations to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
She also alleged that at a November 2022 meeting, Ms Sharp and the parole board’s then-executive director, Tracey Jackson, told her she could not remain in her role as a legal officer and would have to be transferred or find another job.
A spokeswoman for the parole board said no response to allegations would be provided for Ms Sharp, Ms Hendy or Ms Jackson.
“It would not be appropriate to provide comment on matters relating to employees or board members,” she said.
Mr Miles did not respond to The Australian’s questions about when he became aware of Ms Benjamin’s allegations or whether he had taken any action.
A spokesman for Ms Boyd said there were strict confidentiality requirements about public interest disclosures. “Matters are before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and it would be inappropriate to comment,” she said in a statement.
“Acting arrangements for the role of president of the parole board are set out in legislation and followed to ensure the validity of PBQ decisions. The minister is unaware of any substantiated findings that would prevent Ms Sharp from carrying out the role of acting president while a new president is recruited.”
Ms Benjamin declined to comment.
Join the conversation
Hydro hold-ups stifle green goals
Queensland is on track to miss its legislated renewable and emissions reduction targets, with critical pumped hydro projects behind schedule, yet to secure environmental approvals and facing multibillion-dollar cost blowouts.
Read more
Crisafulli pulls in front as he reveals pro-choice stance
After a nervous start to the state election debates in Queensland, David Crisafulli has hit his stride when it matters most, in the clinching phase of the campaign.
Read more