Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd investigated for dealings with think tank

A new investigation into Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd will be shut down if not completed in seven weeks.

Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd. Picture: AAP

A new investigation into Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd will be shut down if the probe is not completed in seven weeks.

The bureaucrat responsible for the probe said tonight he had no power to continue investigating Mr Lloyd once the public service chief departed his job on August 8.

Mr Lloyd is being investigated for allegedly breaching the public service code of conduct over his dealings with conservative think tank the Institute of Public Affairs.

After weeks of controversy, acting Merit Protection Commissioner Mark Davidson confirmed to a Senate estimates hearing today that Mr Lloyd was informed last week he was under investigation.

But Mr Davidson said he had no power to continue an investigation once Mr Lloyd departed, and he refused to give a time frame for the inquiry.

Mr Davidson took five months to decide whether to investigate Mr Lloyd and will now just 48 days to complete the probe.

Mr Davidson received the allegation that Mr Lloyd breached the Public Service Code of Conduct on January 11 this year, and it taken him five months to launch an investigation

A freedom-of-information request last year to Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson sought emails mentioning the IPA and Mr Lloyd, who once led the IPA’s “work reform and productivity unit”. The department refused to release two emails, saying their disclosure could prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach, or possible breach, of the law.

Mr Lloyd has told The Australian that the IPA sought information from government agencies “week in, week out” and the Coalition provided it to the conservative outfit.

Mr Lloyd, a former employee and long-time member of the IPA, defended his dealings with the institute, including his decision to send material highlighting “more generous provisions” in public-sector enterprise agreements.

Appearing at Senate estimates tonight, Mr Lloyd denied he was embarrassed by the decision to launch the investigation.

He said “someone has exercised their right to complain” and he would defend his position.

New Merit Protection Commissioner Linda Waugh will start next Monday. Mr Lloyd chaired the public service panel that recommended the appointment of Ms Waugh to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Kelly O’Dwyer.