Queensland Health keeps top ambulance official suspended on full pay for 14 months

A respected Queensland Ambulance Service communications chief remains suspended on full pay after more than a year as health bosses refuse to reveal the cost of their secretive investigation.

Michael Augustus was suspended on full pay. Picture: Josh Woning.

Queensland Health has kept a senior Queensland Ambulance Service staffer suspended on full pay for more than a year while it probes the leaking of information.

The respected Director of Media and Communications Michael Augustus was suspended on the first day of the caretaker period just four weeks before last year’s election.

In an email obtained by The Courier-Mail hero medic Stephen Rashford and QAS Medical Director wrote to Queensland Health highlighting concerns about the investigation, including how the probe was being dragged out, with little transparency.

Dr Rashford also outlined his fears over how the process was impacting the mental health of the suspended staffer.

The disclosure of information is just one of the allegations against Augustus.

He declined to comment.

Media unit staff are tasked with updating journalists across the state about hospital ramping, adverse incidents at emergency departments, trauma events and patient updates.

QAS Medical Director Stephen Rashford. Picture: Liam Kidston

It is understood Queensland Health has outsourced its investigation but has refused to disclose how much it is costing taxpayers.

“Information pertaining to individual employment matters, including disciplinary processes are subject to strict privacy protections,” a spokeswoman said.

The suspension of Mr Augustus during caretaker arrangements meant no minister could take action against the decision.

The health department has taken the probe out of the hands of the Queensland Ambulance Service’s own human resources unit.

It is believed that a senior uniformed ambulance officer with no media experience was taken off the road to cover duties.

Suspensions within the public service often come with gag orders preventing those involved from revealing any details of the claims against them.

A recent investigation into suspensions of the state’s doctors by this masthead revealed the probes can drag on with little transparency sometimes for years.

The media director has been stood down for 14 months.

Media unit senior staffers would typically earn more than $130,000 per annum.

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation Queensland (ASMOFQ) has accused the Queensland government of using a clause in the Public Sector Act 2022 to deny staff natural justice as long as they continue to pay them their full wage during the suspension period.

The Media and Communications Unit reports to the office of the Commissioner of Queensland Ambulance Service who reports to the Director General of Queensland Health who in turn reports to the Health Minister.

Originally published as Queensland Health keeps top ambulance official suspended on full pay for 14 months