Premier thought ‘long and hard’ before launching probe into integrity

Queensland’s Premier insists she has been listening to questions of accountability dogging her government for weeks yet has not specified what prompted her to finally authorise a sweeping probe.

The review is the latest of several measures by the government to ease pressure around allegations including claims the former state archivist had annual reports altered and the state’s lobbying regulator faced interference in her office.

Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov, who has previously called for an independent investigation into how the Public Service Commission has interacted with her office, welcomed the announcement but said individuals should be given the chance to be heard without fear of repercussions.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted there would be protection for people who spoke out.

The review will be led by former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake AO.

“I hope that the terms of reference will afford Professor Coaldrake the widest possible scope to conduct his review, in the public interest,” Dr Stepanov said.

On Friday, Ms Palaszczuk announced she had asked Professor Coaldrake, now the chief commissioner of the country’s higher education regulator, to lead the review of the public sector’s culture an interactions with integrity bodies.Credit: Matt Dennien

Ms Palaszczuk announced she had asked Professor Coaldrake — now the chief commissioner of the country’s higher education regulator — to lead the review of the public sector’s culture around ethical decision-making and providing impartial advice to government, its interactions with integrity bodies and the laws underpinning them.

The LNP Opposition has suggested Professor Coaldrake, who donated $1760 to the state Labor Party in 2018 for a table at a lunch, faces a conflict of interest as a result and continued its calls for a royal commission.

The probe will deliver an update in two months, before a final report in four.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was expected to build on a public sector employment law review by Peter Bridgman in 2019.

Inquiries and reviews already under way into integrity matters and bodies in Queensland

• Crime and Corruption Commission considering complaints about interference from the Public Service Commission in the office of Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov
• Inquiry by the parliamentary economics and governance committee into the five-yearly strategic review of the functions of the Integrity Commissioner
• Queen’s Counsel-led probe into complaints from former state archivist Mike Summerell that one of his annual reports was altered and he faced pressure while compiling others
• Parliamentary inquiry into the council misconduct watchdog, the Independent Assessor, after allegations of overreach and concerns about resourcing.
• Review of the Public Records Act first recommended by Mr Summerell in 2017
• Commission of Inquiry led by Tony Fitzgerald QC into the functions and powers of the CCC after a parliamentary inquiry found issues in its handling of the Logan council case

Asked what had prompted the decision, Ms Palaszczuk said she had been “listening very carefully” to people, acknowledging that the government could do better.

“I’ve thought about this long and hard, I’ve spoken with my colleague, and we have put in place this review,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was confident Professor Coaldrake would do an effective job, pointing to reviews the LNP had also commissioned from him.

These included the first strategic review of the Integrity Commissioner’s function in 2014.

The latest is now being considered by the parliamentary economics and governance committee, to which Ms Palaszczuk referred reported complaints about potential credit card misconduct and workplace bullying within Dr Stepanov’s office after they were raised with the CCC by Public Service Commission head Robert Setter.

The PSC has separately been accused of entering the Integrity Commissioner’s offices, taking a laptop and wiping the contents of it. Mr Setter has denied suggestions the action was a “raid” and said the laptop had been provided to the Crime and Corruption Commission at its request — which has repeatedly declined to comment on its work.

Manager of Opposition business Jarrod Bleijie said there was a “clear conflict of interest” with Professor Coaldrake. LNP integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson questioned whether public servants would feel comfortable telling “uncomfortable” truths to the “fairly recent” Labor donor and supporter.

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar said without the review considering “purging the system of lobbyists” it would be “nothing more than window dressing”.

Comment has been sought from Professor Coaldrake, who also overhauled the public service during the 1990s for then-Labor premier Wayne Goss.

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