‘I don’t understand’: Premier plays down public servant job security fears

The Premier says she doesn’t know why public servants would be afraid to act against the government’s interests after a former bureaucrat said workers on contracts often felt pressured to do the “politically convenient” thing to keep their jobs.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says she doesn’t understand why public servants would be afraid to act against the government’s interests, as she batted away fresh integrity concerns and refused an independent ­review.

The Premier spent the fourth day in a row refusing calls for a wide review into government integrity following complaints around the independence of its integrity bodies, and as terminated state archivist Mike Summerell pleaded with Ms Palaszczuk to “do the right thing”.

It came as he issued a lengthy statement explaining how public servants risk “career suicide” by daring to put the public interest first, which the Premier dismissed.

In his statement, he accused the Palaszczuk government of “putting the political interest above the public interest” in refusing to hold a review, saying “everyone knows” there are problems to fix.

He said public servants faced a “significant dilemma” when doing the right thing differed from doing the “politically convenient” thing.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell.

Mr Summerell said most senior public servants in Queensland had three or five-year contracts. That meant people had to make decisions with the weight of their future employment, their mortgage and the possibility of upsetting powerful people on their mind.

“Essentially, if you are (a) good boy or girl, you keep your job,” he said. “If not, you are likely to pay.”

But asked about whether she thought a more permanent workforce was needed, Ms Palaszczuk said: “I don’t understand that particular point you’re raising.”

It comes after the same problems were raised two years ago by Together Union state secretary Alex Scott in reference to public service reforms being proposed by Ms Palaszczuk.

“We can’t have frank and fearless advice to the government of the day unless we have a permanent public service,” he said at the time.

“If someone has ­insecure employment, they are less able to stand up to senior management and the government of the day and give them the advice that they don’t want to hear.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Ms Palaszczuk on Monday said the government was moving towards a more permanent workforce.

“We are looking in terms of temporary appointments, we are trying to give permanency to public servants,” she said.

The Premier again insisted there were robust agencies in Queensland when pressed on why a separate inquiry into integrity couldn’t be launched.

“The public can have confidence that we respect the different institutions that provide the checks and balances over government,” she said.

“Let me also make it very clear that the federal government does not have these checks and balances.”

Originally published as ‘I don’t understand’: Premier plays down public servant job security fears