Palaszczuk brushes off watchdog’s call for more powerful integrity probe

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has dug in behind a narrow review of integrity issues despite calls from the outgoing Integrity Commissioner for a wider inquiry and an opposition push to make key details public.

State Parliament sittings resume on Tuesday, when the government is expected to be grilled about allegations of political interference in independent roles.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has dismissed fresh calls from outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov for a commission of inquiry into integrity matters in the state.Credit: Matt Dennien

The office of the Integrity Commissioner is responsible for providing advice to government officials and regulating the booming lobbying sector, whose interactions with government a Brisbane Times analysis shows jumped more than 250 per cent last year.

Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov had previously supported a formal review of the actions of the Public Service Commission, which was alleged to have taken a laptop from her office and wiped the data.

Her new call on Monday for a powerful commission of inquiry — with the powers of a royal commission — follow a picture that has since emerged around the narrow scope of a probe called by the government last week.

That high-level review, led by former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake AO, was the second investigation or review launched in recent weeks amid allegations by several current and former statutory or independent officers.

Professor Coaldrake has since confirmed he would not have power to compel witnesses and has been unclear on the protections available for those who may come forward to speak about their experience with the state’s integrity systems.

In a statement, Dr Stepanov said she appreciated the “frank assessment of what the review can realistically achieve” given its narrow scope and terms of reference and now believed a commission of inquiry was the only path forward.

“Noting that the fear of legal action and other repercussions are commonly held concerns of whistleblowers, in my view only a full Commission of Inquiry would be able to afford potential witnesses the necessary legal protections required to overcome these concerns,” she said.

Dr Stepanov’s call has been backed by former state archivist Mike Summerell, whose own allegations of interference in annual reports are being investigated by a Queen’s Counsel.

Questioned on Monday afternoon, Ms Palaszczuk repeated previous comments that the state had a “standing royal commission” in the form of the Crime and Corruption Commission and insisted there was “definitely whistleblower protection in this state”.

She said the Coaldrake review would be thorough and people should “let him get on with the job”.

Economics and governance committee deputy chair Ray Stevens — the LNP member for Mermaid Beach — had earlier told reporters he would move a motion during Monday’s meeting to release 18-months’ worth of documents related to its oversight capacity for Dr Stepanov’s role.

The committee, expected to meet again in the week, is made up of three LNP and three Labor members including the chair and factional ally of Ms Palaszczuk, Linus Power, who holds the casting vote.

“If this is not passed today you will know the reason why,” Mr Stevens said ahead of the closed-door meeting, to avoid parliamentary rules barring the public discussion of private committee matters.

Ms Palaszczuk said any decision to release documents was a matter for the committee.

The committee has emerged as a steward of key details around one of the larger questions facing the government, after Ms Palaszczuk revealed she made a referral to the body — reported to include allegations of potential credit card misconduct raised with the CCC — due to a legal obligation.

She has denied this was part of a move to try to remove Dr Stepanov from the role and has also denied knowledge of the interference allegations before the first media reports in September.

Ms Palaszczuk has said elements were still before both the corruption watchdog and the committee, which limited she could say publicly. Both Mr Power and the CCC have so far declined to confirm or clarify details.

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