Queensland Premier David Crisafulli challenged to intervene in Laura Gerber staff exodus
The Queensland Premier is under pressure to act upon claims an ‘erratic’ Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber shouts and swears at staff, losing 11 advisers in just 10 months.
David Crisafulli has been challenged to hold his Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber to the high standards of behaviour he promised before the election, after it emerged 11 staff had left her “chaotic” office in 10 months.
The Australian reported on Friday that Ms Gerber had gone through three experienced political operatives as chiefs of staff since the Liberal National Party won the Queensland election in October, as government sources described her behaviour as “erratic” and claimed she shouted and swore at staff.
Ahead of a parliamentary sitting week, Mr Crisafulli said Ms Gerber had his “full support” to continue in the politically crucial portfolio, after the LNP leader staked his Premiership on the number of victims of crime falling.
Opposition deputy leader Cameron Dick told The Australian that Mr Crisafulli needed to hold Ms Gerber to the “higher standard of behaviour he said he would set for his ministers and his government”.
“The Premier needs to personally intervene and take action to address the minister’s behaviour, which is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable,” Labor’s Mr Dick said on Sunday.
“The Premier needs to act to protect ministerial staff and public servants from Minister Gerber’s angry outbursts and her swearing.”
He said Ms Gerber should be required to undergo professional counselling and training on appropriate workplace behaviour and conduct, but stopped short of saying she should be sacked from Mr Crisafulli’s cabinet.
“Anything less (than requiring counselling and training) would be a dereliction of duty by the premier as the first minister of the government,” Mr Dick said.
Several government sources have alleged Ms Gerber shouts and swears at her own ministerial staff, staff in the offices of other ministers, and departmental staff.
Neither Ms Gerber nor Mr Crisafulli have responded to the allegations about her behaviour; the Minister’s office said she remained “firmly focused” on the “responsibility to achieve huge reforms across government”.
On Sunday, Health Minister Tim Nicholls refused to say whether it was appropriate for a minister to shout or swear at staff, and dismissed The Australian’s reporting as “gossip and hypotheticals and people whispering”.
Mr Nicholls said Ms Gerber was doing a “terrific job” and had put her “heart and soul” into dealing with Labor’s youth crime crisis.
“I find Laura Gerber to be one of the most effective and efficient and passionate members of parliament and members of cabinet that I have dealt with,” he said.
“If we could bottle Laura Gerber’s passion and enthusiasm, it would be a wonderful resource to have.”
He said Queenslanders were only concerned about youth crime statistics improving.
“Look, I don’t work in Laura’s office. So what I’m concerned about is making sure that - and the whole government’s concerned about making sure that - we’re driving down the victim of crime numbers,” Mr Nicholls said.
Days after he won the election, Mr Crisafulli said his ministers would be held accountable to their charter letters, which set out the government’s policy priorities and ministerial standards.
“I expect every Minister to be accountable as they implement the deliverables of their portfolios and to uphold the values of government as they go about their business,” the Premier said on November 8.
Mr Crisafulli’s charter letter for Ms Gerber said he expected her to treat public service staff with “the highest levels of courtesy and respect”.
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