Queensland Premier David Crisafulli dodges questions on minister Laura Gerber’s conduct
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has faced repeated questions about whether Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber is fit for the job after The Australian reported a staff exodus.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has refused to say whether Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber is fit for the job after a staff exodus attributed to alleged “erratic” and “chaotic” behaviour.
Mr Crisafulli dodged repeated questions about the allegations first reported on Friday in The Australian, saying he would not comment on reports from a “gossip column”.
Three experienced chiefs of staff are among 11 ministerial workers who left Ms Gerber’s office within the first 10 months of the Liberal National Party government, with sources describing her behaviour as “erratic” and “chaotic”, while alleging she shouted and swore at staff.
When asked whether Ms Gerber was adhering to the expectations of the Premier, which included that she treat public service staff with “the highest levels of courtesy and respect”, Mr Crisafulli refused to give support.
“You’re asking me to comment on a gossip column?” he said. “I can’t stand in front of you and talk to you about a gossip column about stuff, because people will look at me and say ‘Where are your priorities? Where’s youth crime, health, housing, cost of living?’ That’s why I’m here.”
In the days following October’s election, Mr Crisafulli pledged to hold ministers accountable to their charter letters and “uphold the values of the government”.
The Youth Justice Minister did not join Mr Crisafulli on Monday as he revealed 27 serious repeat juvenile offenders had been arrested as part of a crime crackdown in the state’s north. One 17-year-old had been charged with more than 49 offences, including 11 car thefts.
Ms Gerber’s portfolio is crucial for the LNP, which was elected last year after pledging to crack down on youth crime and make Queensland safer. “We’re here today to talk about a police operation, and any questions you want to ask me about victims, I’m all yours,” Mr Crisafulli said.
He said he was leading a transparent government, but immediately following, refused to answer questions confirming the number of staff that had left Ms Gerber's office, whether the minister had received management training or whether she had his support.
First reported in print on Friday and followed in The Australian’s award-winning Feeding the Chooks column, the Youth Justice Minister has her fourth chief of staff in less than a year.
It followed the recent resignation of political operative Valeria Cheglov, who previously worked for Coalition home affairs minister Karen Andrews.
Ms Cheglov’s move followed the departures of her predecessors, veteran Coalition adviser David Fraser and former LNP MP Matt McEachan, as well as several other political and media advisers.
Youth Justice director-general Bob Gee has also taken a leave of absence from her office on secondment to oversee the government’s CFMEU labour-union commission of inquiry as its secretary.
Mr Gee told estimates he had not sought out a new role, but had been approached to take on the position. However, a senior government source told The Australian he had been “looking to be moved”.
Mr Crisafulli has now installed his longtime political ally Andy Longmire as Ms Gerber’s chief of staff.
“Staff taking other opportunities is not what I’m focused on,” he said.
Neither the Premier nor the minister has directly responded to the allegations about Ms Gerber’s behaviour, with her office affirming last week that she remained “firmly focused” on the “responsibility to achieve huge reforms across government”.
Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick told The Australian on Sunday that Mr Crisafulli needed to hold Ms Gerber to account for her alleged behaviour and protect ministerial staffers from “angry outbursts and swearing”.
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