These include complaints from former State Archivist Mike Summerell about interference in an annual report to remove comments critical of the government,and a commission of inquiry into the structure of the Crime and Corruption Commission,to beheaded by former judge Tony Fitzgerald QC.
LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has asked for Parliament to be recalled from the summer break next week,a fortnight early,to deal with the integrity matters – a request that’s been denied by leader of the house Yvette D’Ath.
On Wednesday,Dr Stepanov revealed the committee referral “appears to have originated with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet”,before directing further questions to the office of Director-General Rachel Hunter.
“I have no knowledge of the committee to which the referral was made,when the referral occurred,who made the referral,or why the referral was made,” she said in an emailed response to questions. “I am unaware of the outcome of any such referral.”
In an interview with News Corp,Dr Stepanov was reported to have said the referral would have been made under Section 82 of the Integrity Act,which deals with high-level procedures for removing a person from her role.
Dr Stepanov was reported to have said the timing was of “great interest”,given that she had raised formal concerns with the Public Service Commission in late 2020 about “suspicious” conduct,before escalating it to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.