NSW Minister Jenny Aitchison extends ‘sympathies, apologies’ to Rochelle Hicks after death threat

Jenny Aitchison has apologised to executive Rochelle Hicks who received a death threat from an Indigenous department adviser – who was retained ‘because he is Aboriginal’.

Rochelle Hicks. Picture: Liam Mendes

NSW Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison has apologised to senior female executive Rochelle Hicks, the recipient of a death threat from an Indigenous department adviser who was retained “because he is Aboriginal and a cultural knowledge holder”.

It follows Labor’s upper house benches “watering down” a motion condemning how Transport for NSW and the Minns government handled the case of Ian Brown, the Aboriginal adviser who threatened Ms Hicks.

Mr Brown, contracted as cultural heritage manager on the $2.2bn Coffs Harbour Bypass project, made the death threat against deputy project director Ms Hicks during a meeting at the Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council in June, stating: “If I see Rochelle I will kill her.”

Mr Brown was allowed to stay in his $165-an-hour job “because he is Aboriginal and a cultural knowledge holder”, Ms Hicks was told by her bosses, who feared the massive bypass project might be shut down if he was sacked.

After The Weekend Australian broke the allegations, NSW Premier Chris Minns said Mr Brown had been stood down.

“Following these concerning allegations, Transport for NSW ­directed the Local Aboriginal Land Council that he is not to be used for any further department projects,” Mr Minns said.

On Thursday, Ms Aitchison was asked in question time by Nationals MP Tanya Thompson why “nothing was immediately done” after the death threat.

“It is a really important matter,” Ms Aitchison said, condemning the “extremely serious” allegations. “I continue to unreservedly express my sympathies and my regret to Ms Hicks. It is an awful situation she has been placed in – I would not wish that on anyone.”

Ian Brown.

Ms Aitchison said “as soon” as she was advised of the matter she asked for an “urgent briefing”.

“In that briefing, I was told that Mr Brown had been ordered off site,” she said. “He has not been on site since the 14th of July.

“I have expressed my utmost concern to the department (about safety at work) and that the investigation afoot includes recommendations to ensure this never happens again – it is appalling.”

When asked, the minister extended her “support, sympathy and apologies” to Ms Hicks. “Once the investigation is finalised, those recommendations will be implemented in full,” she said.

Minister Jenny Aitchison during question time on Thursday. Picture: Christian Gilles

The minister’s apology followed a late-night upper house motion by MP Mark Latham, who had sought to condemn both the government and Transport for NSW for not standing down Mr Brown immediately when the allegations were first aired.

It also sought to reject the reason Mr Brown was allowed to stay on the project – “because he is Aboriginal and a cultural knowledge holder” – and urged the government to implement its rhetoric on female workplace safety “regardless of ethnic background”.