The chief govt of the Queensland Public Service Fee has denied claims heard by a parliamentary committee that he referred to as the state’s integrity commissioner “a bitch on a witch hunt”.
Queensland’s integrity commissioner, Dr Nikola Stepanov, made the feedback below parliamentary privilege throughout a listening to of the parliament’s financial and governance committee on Monday.
Requested whether or not she had ever been referred to as such a time period and “topic to misogynistic language”, Stepanov advised the listening to: “I do verify that I've had feedback of that nature … mentioned to me.”
“I assist a contemporary public service the place men and women, notably these rising as leaders, aren't topic to these sorts of gender-based slurs.
“I used to be referred to as that time period by the PSC chief govt. I had already heard it, however I used to be referred to as that time period by him in a telephone name on or about 4 April 2018.”
Robert Setter has launched a press release to say he was “appalled and saddened” by the declare.
“I'm appalled as a result of it isn't behaviour that I take into account acceptable – ever,” he mentioned within the assertion.
“I deny completely making any misogynistic feedback to or concerning the integrity commissioner at any time.
“I'm saddened as a result of the integrity commissioner has felt it vital to make use of parliamentary privilege to boost her concern on this manner.
“The commissioner has by no means raised this with me immediately. Nor am I conscious that the commissioner has referred her considerations to every other authority.”
Stepanov introduced her resignation in January, sparking a much-hyped integrity saga throughout the Queensland public service.
Stepanov – whose workplace regulates lobbying in Queensland – has beforehand raised considerations about interference along with her workplace by the Public Service Fee (PSC), which controls her company’s price range and staffing.
These considerations embrace allegations the PSC eliminated and wiped the contents of a laptop computer utilized by an worker, and complaints that the PSC had progressively stripped assets and key employees from the integrity commissioner’s workplace.
The state parliament’s financial and governance committee is holding hearings a few strategic assessment of the integrity commissioner’s workplace. Stepanov gave proof on Monday morning.
She mentioned she had written to the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and would stay in her position till no less than 31 December – extending her tenure as a way to oversee reforms.
Setter has beforehand denied ideas he was uncooperative with Stepanov’s makes an attempt to conduct a lobbying audit of the PSC.
The integrity commissioner is an unbiased statutory workplace whose accountability is to advise MPs and public servants on ethics issues, and to control lobbying actions.
The PSC is a central authorities company helping departments with managing their workforce.
Stepanov reiterated her assist for a possible fee of inquiry into the integrity issues and argued that the integrity commissioner’s workplace ought to be separated from the PSC. She mentioned she ought to finally be given management of her personal workplace’s staffing and price range.
“The place I've encountered considerations about conduct, the employees throughout the workplace are PSC employees,” she advised the committee.
“You might be searching for to do your job in an setting the place you don’t, in impact, management the assets that assist you.”
Stepanov had beforehand raised considerations about the best way a PSC employees member, who had been working in her workplace, had dealt with confidential paperwork. She requested a forensic examination of the worker’s laptop computer.
In March 2021, the PSC eliminated and allegedly wiped the contents of a laptop computer.
The Queensland Crime and Corruption Fee is investigating a criticism associated to the deletion of recordsdata from the laptop computer.
Setter’s assertion additionally addressed the broader public sector energy battle between the 2 places of work.
“It's a matter of public file that because the employer of employees within the workplace of the integrity commissioner, that I've been involved for a while about allegations raised relating to the psychological security of some employees.
“The place there are issues regarding the integrity commissioner herself, I've made that data accessible by way of the suitable channels for consideration and recommendation in accordance with my statutory obligations.
“I can not make additional touch upon issues which are presently below CCC investigation.
“I stand on my file of respect, integrity, and management throughout the public service over a few years.”
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