Qld watchdog assessing integrity claims

Marty Silk | February 25, 2022

Queensland’s corruption watchdog is looking at multiple complaints made “directly” by the integrity commissioner.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is already investigating Dr Nikola Stepanov’s allegation that the Public Service Commission seized a laptop from her office and wiped it on March 12.

CCC acting chair Bruce Barbour says the laptop claim isn’t the only allegation the integrity commissioner has referred to the watchdog.

“There are other matters we’re currently looking that come from a range of sources … the integrity commissioner, I’m just reminded as well, some direct,” he told a parliamentary inquiry on Friday.

Mr Barbour also cast doubt on PSC chief executive Robert Setter’s claim that at “no time” did his staff raid Dr Stepanov’s office or seize a laptop.

“A laptop was provided to the CCC at their request,” Mr Setter said earlier this month.

However, Mr Barbour confirmed the PSC had the laptop when the CCC launched its probe in August, which was four months after the device was allegedly taken from Dr Stepanov’s office.

“It wasn’t at the request of the CCC that laptops were removed from the office of the Integrity Commissioner,” he told the committee.

“The timing, as I just indicated to you, it does not support that fact.”

Mr Barbour said the probe into the removal and deletion of the laptop – Operation Workshop – relates to “the potential release of confidential information”.

“Could I put it this way? To be able to investigate one (issue), the other issue need to be looked at appropriately as well,” Mr Barbour said.

The CCC boss also confirmed the PSC had made credit card misuse and workplace bullying allegations against Dr Stepanov, but they were dismissed on January 25

Mr Barbour said there was “insufficient evidence” of credit card misuse, while the bullying claim was referred back to the PSC.

After Dr Stepanov complained about the alleged PSC raid in March and April, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk referred her to the parliament Economics and Governance Committee over the same credit card and bullying allegations on April 22.

Ms Palaszczuk said Solicitor-General Gavin Thompson advised her to make the referral, but she won’t comment further.

Dr Stepanov doesn’t know the exact details of the allegations, so she’s unable to either respond or defend herself.

The committee is understood to be seeking legal advice about issuing a statement, and the integrity commissioner wants details of any probe into her publicly released.

“There is also a legal maxim that says, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’,” Dr Stepanov said in a statement on Friday.

“It is my sincere desire that any allegations that have been made against me be investigated fully, independently, and expeditiously; and that the outcome of any such investigation be made public as soon as possible.”

Dr Stepanov, who finishes in her role in July, also called for a Commission of Inquiry into integrity complaints against the Palaszczuk government.

Meanwhile, a Queen’s Counsel is probing former state archivist Mike Summerell’s allegations of interference in his role, and claims his annual reports were altered.

Professor Peter Coaldrake is also reviewing state government integrity, but he won’t hear individual complaints.

Another three reviews are also looking at whether the CCC, the integrity commissioner and the Office of the Independent Assessor, the local government watchdog, are fit for purpose.