Coaldrake’s pledge: My public service review will improve accountability
The man appointed to head the integrity review into Queensland’s public service has promised to listen to those bureaucrats and others who take the trouble to participate in the inquiry, making it clear he intends to do a thorough job.
Peter Coaldrake. (Photo: UQP)
Former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake is urging people to give evidence to the inquiry and has set up a website to call for submissions.
Under fire for her government’s handling of integrity issues, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed Professor Coaldrake to review culture and accountability in the state’s public sector.
The government’s critics have already argued the review needed to ensure whistleblowers would be protected from reprisals if they came forward.
But Coaldrake insisted in a statement that both public servants and ordinary Queenslanders should have a say.
“Quite apart from exploring matters of culture and examining how well the current arrangements are working, there is a particular interest in how the current system is seen and directly experienced by members of the public,” he said.
He promised all comments and submissions to the review would be acknowledged.
“There also will be opportunities for discussion, in person, following initial analysis of the written comments and submissions received,” he said.
“We will seek to include in that phase contributions from people who have issues and concerns but who have not made written submissions.”
However, he has said the review would focus on system wide reform rather than concentrate on individual complaints.
He set a deadline of March 28 for submissions, saying they should be no longer than 500 words.
Coaldrake is due to hand an interim report to the Premier within two months and a final report within four months.
Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or posted to Review of culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector, PO Box 12263, George St QLD 4003.