Trouble on the 13th floor: Clouds gather around those who keep watch over government

On the 13th floor of a nondescript corner office tower in Brisbane’s CBD, those charged with handling some of the most sensitive and important issues in Queensland gather on an informal basis about four times each year.

Now comprising nine accountability and oversight bodies, several of which have office space on that floor, the Integrity Committee is a little-known thread tying together the state’s Byzantine system of watchdogs.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has played down the need for a broader inquiry or review of recent issues raised among the integrity bodies and government, including political interference in some independent roles, citing work already in progress.Credit:

The group first met in 2001, following a decade of public sector restructure and corruption-busting reforms sparked by the sunlight of the Fitzgerald inquiry, under the inaugural Integrity Commissioner Alan Demack.

Each quarter since, the lobbying regulator, along with the chair of the now-Crime and Corruption Commission, the Queensland Ombudsman, chief executive of the Public Service Commission, the Racing, Information and Electoral commissioners, and more recently the Independent Assessor, have sat down to discuss shared issues.

Meeting minutes show these include updates on their broad scope of work and, often, the difficulties of a demand for it from an informed community wanting to know even more.

“All of the Integrity Committee agencies have experienced increase in demand for their respective services and are optimistic that this increased demand has resulted from a heightened public awareness of each agency’s functions,” a general update in the November 2017 meeting notes states.

To meet demand, the bodies need resources – provided by the government from taxpayer funds.

Since December, after the 2020 state election and amid global COVID pressures, several of the bodies reported periods of heightened activity and pressure.

“Continuing record demand”, the Information Commissioner noted. For the CCC, the start of 2021 was “very busy”.

Meanwhile, outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov, who chairs the committee, had to limit services for a period to manage the surge of work.

Meeting minutes have not been released since June last year, with the next meeting then planned for September.

Since then, four have faced even greater issues – casting a cloud over the system as a whole.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has rejected opposition calls for a wide-ranging inquiry into her government, but what happens with four members of the Integrity Committee could determine how she wields power.

Crime and Corruption Commission

While not among the bodies based out of the CBD tower day-to-day, the CCC is the major piece in the integrity puzzle.

But amid a mounting tally of failed prosecutions, and after fraud charges resulting in the dismissal of the entire Logan council were dropped, the powerful parliamentary crime and corruption committee last year held an inquiry into the CCC.

The findings and recommendations for a further commission of inquiry into the structure and powers of the watchdog would force the resignation of longstanding chair Alan MacSporran last month, who cited a breakdown in his relationship with the committee.

Days later, the government announced former judge and renowned corruption-buster Tony Fitzgerald, whose work in the late ’80s eventually morphed into the body, would head the inquiry.

While limited in its initial scope to the corruption watchdog itself, Mr Fitzgerald could push his probe further, as he did in his landmark inquiry. Regardless, the impact will likely ripple.

Integrity Commissioner

Holding the role since 2017, Nikola Stepanov will depart midway through her second three-year term in July. She had accepted a new role following complaints she raised with the CCC about interference in her office by the Public Service Commission — both located on the same 13th floor.

Dr Stepanov’s role of regulating lobbyists and providing advice to MPs and public servants has also undergone a recent five-yearly review, which recommended overhauls being considered by her parliamentary oversight committee. She has complained about a lack of resources.

That committee had separately received a secretive referral made by the Premier, which Ms Palaszczuk this week linked to the CCC complaint.

Public Service Commission

Chief executive Robert Setter oversees the body, now accused of interference in Dr Stepanov’s office, which ultimately reports to the Premier.

The commission works on public sector management and reform, and also has budgetary and resource control over the limited staff assisting Dr Stepanov.

The board of the commission is also made up of the heads of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Treasury. DPC director-general Rachel Hunter this week announced the terms of an investigation into claims from the former state archivist that he faced interference while trying to make comments critical of the government in an annual report. That investigation is set to be finalised by March 4, and will consider whether any matters should be referred to the CCC or disciplined under the Public Service Act.

Office of the Independent Assessor

The fledgling council misconduct watchdog, under Kathleen Florian, has been swamped by work since its establishment in 2018 amid local government reforms. It has also faced accusations of overreach into media operations and launching trivial investigations, and recently handed some of its functions back to the government.

It, too, has its office on the 13th floor of the Albert Street building.

A parliamentary committee inquiry into its actions, launched in October in the wake of several of the allegations, will hold its next round of public hearings next week.

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