Annastacia Palaszczuk suffers an integrity vacuum

In the grip of its biggest integrity crises, Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government will be left without an Integrity Commissioner by the end of the week.

Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov tendered her resignation in January. Picture: Liam Kidston

In the grip of its biggest integrity crises, Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government will be left without an Integrity Commissioner by the end of the week.

Integrity boss Nikola Stepanov, who advises state MPs and senior bureaucrats on conflicts of interest and maintains the lobbying register, tendered her resignation in January midway through her second three-year term as a statutory office holder.

Dr Stepanov quit after alleging political interference in her role – including the seizure of a laptop from her office by the Public Service Commission – and will serve her last day on Sunday.

The Palaszczuk government is yet to announce her replacement and is required by law to consult with a parliamentary committee before making the appointment.

The Australian understands the committee has not yet been presented with a potential replacement.

In a letter to the Premier earlier this year, Dr Stepanov offered to remain in her role until after the budget estimates process, which finishes in early August.

Dr Stepanov’s departure on Sunday will come days after a scathing review from public administration expert Professor Peter Coaldrake into integrity problems in Queensland.

The former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor was appointed by Ms Palaszczuk in February to conduct a four-month review into “culture and accountability in the public sector”. It was ordered after weeks of sustained pressure in the face of allegations of interference in the work of the state’s integrity watchdogs, including that of ­Integrity Commissioner Dr Stepanov and former state archivist Mike Summerell.

In his 131-page report, Professor Coaldrake describes a culture entrenched in Queensland's public service that is tolerant of bullying, dominated by short-term political thinking and unwilling to give life to unfash­ionable points of view.

He recommended the independence of integrity bodies be enhanced by “aligning responsibility for financial arrangements and management practices with the Speaker of parliament and the appropriate parliamentary committee, rather than the executive government”.

Dr Stepanov was reading the Coaldrake’s review on Wednesday and her spokesman said: “Given that she will be finishing up in a couple of days, it’s unlikely that she will be making any public comment at this stage.”

Earlier this year, Dr Stepanov alleged a laptop was seized and wiped from her office in March 2021, on the orders of Public Service Commission boss Rob Setter.

She had for months sought ­financial approval from the PSC for an independent forensic examination of the device after suspecting highly sensitive material had been transferred on to the laptop without authorisation.

A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk said: “Recruitment for a new Integrity Commissioner is being conducted in accordance with the Integrity Act 2009.”