Release of integrity papers blocked

Labor backbenchers have blocked the release of secret documents detailing Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to refer Queensland’s integrity watchdog to a parliamentary oversight committee.

Queensland member for Logan Linus Power is a factional ally of Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Labor backbenchers have blocked the release of secret documents detailing Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to refer Queensland’s integrity watchdog to a parliamentary oversight committee.

The committee met behind closed doors on Thursday evening to take a vote on whether to make public documents about the referral of Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov.

One of Ms Palaszczuk’s factional allies, Linus Power, had the casting vote as committee chair. He went straight to Ms Palaszczuk’s office after the meeting. “The committee is carefully considering the release of information,” Mr Power said. “We ­always take extreme care in considering sensitive matters. We are seeking some external advice.”

Mr Power said he went to the Premier’s office to speak to the parliament’s clerk about what he could disclose about the deliberations, because of strict secrecy rules imposed on the committee.

Liberal National backbencher Ray Stevens, who moved the motion to release information on Monday, was visibly upset after the meeting, which he described as “very, very disappointing”.

Ms Palaszczuk referred Dr Stepanov to the committee last April, over historic misconduct complaints centring on the use of a credit card and unspecified bullying. She made the referral two weeks after Dr Stepanov raised concerns of high-level ­interference in her role regulating lobbyists and advising MPs and public servants on conflicts of interest.

The two-year-old allegations against Dr Stepanov had already been assessed and dismissed by the Crime and Corruption Commission when Ms Palaszczuk asked the economics and governance committee to consider if they needed further ­investigation. Ms Palaszczuk says she was required to make the referral after receiving legal advice.

Just 16 days before she was referred, Dr Stepanov raised concerns with the Premier’s then director-general, Dave Stewart, about suspicious conduct and interference in her role. Dr Stepanov has alleged officials from the Public Service Commission seized a laptop from her office and wiped its contents.