Border chief Roman Quaedvlieg’s ‘salacious’ texts in custody of probe

Roman Quaedvlieg sent “salacious’’ texts to a woman applying for a job with his border force department.

Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg.

Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg sent ­“salacious” text messages to a woman applying for a job with his department and they were later accessed by the agency called in to investigate his conduct, it was revealed last night.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has vowed to end the nine-month investigation into Mr Quaedvlieg “within weeks’’, as the cost borne by the taxpayer climbs into the millions.

The Daily Telegraph reports today that “flirtatious” messages sent by the commissioner were ­accessed by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and that his relationship with the younger staffer who had been a casual at Sydney Airport breached the public service Code of Conduct.

Mr Quaedvlieg denied he was in a relationship with the woman when she applied for the permanent job, the paper reported. He declined to comment about the text messages to The Australian.

Mr Porter defended the time it had taken to resolve the affair, which began last May after Mr Quaedvlieg was accused of using his influence to help his girlfriend secure a job at Sydney Airport.

He could exonerate, counsel, reprimand, sack or demote Mr Quaedvlieg, theTelegraph reports.

“I can understand Mr Quaedvlieg’s frustration and the frustration of others, at the length of time this matter has taken,” Mr Porter said.

“But the time taken on this matter is commensurate with the complexity of the issues involved. I intend to complete my consideration of this matter in a matter of weeks and, given the importance of that consideration, I cannot make any further comment about the matter.’’

Mr Quaedvlieg was stood down from his $619,905 job on full pay on May 27. Deputy Commissioner Michael Outram, has been acting in the role since.

The Department of Home ­Affairs refused last night to say if his partner had also been obliged to step aside while the claims against Mr Quaedvlieg were investigated. Nor would the department confirm that Mr Outram was paid at the commissioner’s rate while acting in the role — a figure nearly double the $331,600 normally commanded by the department’s most senior officers.

The Australian understands Mr Quaedvlieg has not received legal assistance provided by the department. “As mentioned in Senate estimates evidence, the department is unable to comment on any detail relating to this matter,’’ a Home Affairs spokeswoman said. Mr Quaedvlieg is one of the highest- paid public servants in Canberra, as is Mr Outram.

The bill for their combined salaries, plus the expense of the nine-month investigation by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, means the total cost borne by the taxpayer has run well into the millions. On Monday, Mr Quaedvlieg ­lamented the “extraordinary time’’ it has taken investigators to finish the job.

“(I) restate my commitment to return to the role at a time which is critical to the security of Australia’s borders and to the establishment of Australia’s national security architecture,’’ he said. The Australian understands that Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson, the official who since last year has had carriage of the investigation into Mr Quaedvlieg, made adverse findings against the Border Force boss in his final ­report.

However, no action has been taken, with the border chief vigorously denying any allegation of wrongdoing. There is understood to have been significant disagreement about interpretation of the evidence against Mr Quaedvlieg, which has further delayed the progress of the inquiry.