Annastacia Palaszczuk slaps down integrity watchdog

Annastacia Palaszczuk ignores calls from the integrity watchdog for an inquiry into political interference in the public sector.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Annastacia Palaszczuk has ignored fresh calls from Queensland’s integrity watchdog for a royal commission into political interference in the public sector.

Ms Palaszczuk last week appointed former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake to head a four month review into “culture and accountability in the public sector”.

The review was ordered after weeks of sustained pressure over allegations of interference in the work of the state’s integrity bodies.

It will not look at individual complaints and does not have powers to compel witnesses or provide legal privilege.

Integrity commissioner Nikola Stepanov on Monday slammed the narrow scope of the review and lack of whistleblower protections, which would be afforded in a commission of inquiry.

“In my view, it is in the public interest that a commission of inquiry be established to examine the multitude of integrity-related issues that have been canvassed in the public space in recent weeks,” she said.

“Noting that the fear of legal action and other repercussions are commonly held concerns of whistleblowers, in my view only a full commission of inquiry would be able to afford potential witnesses the necessary legal protections required to overcome these concerns.”

Ms Palaszczuk rejected her calls, saying there would be protections for public service whistleblowers in the review.

“The Coaldrake review is going to be very, very thorough so I think everyone should let him get on with the job,” she said.

His review was ordered after The Australian revealed allegations by Dr Stepanov of high-level interference in her role regulating lobbyists and advising MPs and public servants on conflicts of interest.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is investigating allegations that officials from the Public Service Commission seized a laptop from Dr Stepanov’s office in March last year and wiped its contents.

Sixteen days after Dr Stepanov raised concerns about the seizure with the Premier’s director-general, she was referred by Ms Palaszczuk to a parliamentary committee over two-year-old misconduct allegations.

The Labor-led parliamentary oversight committee on Monday delayed its decision on whether to release secret documents concerning Ms Palaszczuk’s referral of Dr Stepanov.

The allegations, never raised with Dr Stepanov, centred on the use of a credit card and unspecified bullying complaints and had already been dismissed by the CCC.

Dr Stepanov said the timing of the referral was “of great interest to her”, given she had made interference complaints two weeks prior.

Ms Palaszczuk denies she tried to have Dr Stepanov sacked.

But Ms Palaszczuk has repeatedly refused to answer questions about the referral, arguing she could be found in contempt of parliament if she discussed business before a committee.