What we have seen happen to date, absolutely nothing , is a massive green light for every corrupt public servant we have. Corruption and nepotism is rife. It is becoming a stench that will be the downfall of this government.
Former NT Commissioner for Public Employment Mr. Graham Symons on 14 December 2011 in a former Employment Instruction Number 12 – Code of Conduct – in Number 7.1 – states pursuant to section 16 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) [PSEMA] states –
“7.1. In order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the Northern Territory Public Sector, a Public Sector Officer must exhibit and be seen to exhibit the highest ethical standards in carrying out his or her duties, and must pursue, and be seen to pursue, the best interests of the people of the Northern Territory”.
Section 5F (1) of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) states “a public sector office must do the following: (a) carry out the officer’s duties as follows (i) objectively, impartially, professionally and with integrity.”
Section 5F (d) of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) states “avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal or other interests and duties as a public sector officer.”
In any other jurisdiction in Australia the malicious police investigation into Colleen Gwynne and subsequent incompetent and costly prosecution by DPP would have been investigated by an ICAC (or equivalent) or judicial inquiry with wide terms of reference. In the Territory no one is ever responsible or accountable and the Government and its Agencies run dead when substantive issues of probity arise. The NT ICAC is incompetent and dysfunctional and should be abolished (with appropriate transitional arrangements of course). It is not too late address these matters. What will the Territory’s new Government do in the public interest?
There was nothing malicious about the prosecution of Gwynne. The incompetent Prosecutors fluffed it, likely deliberately, as to succeed would send a clear message across government and multiple executives would follow. For what it’s worth, AGD HR was approached by 2 whistle-blowers in 2017 and the HR expert did nothing other than inform his boss who then went straight to Gwynne and told her what the allegations were and who made the approach. The bullying and reprisal that followed was intense.
The current acting ICAC was the AGD CE at the time and had the opportunity then to do what should have been done but obviously ignored the rules and turned a blind eye.
Once joined, the ECO Club is untouchable because the integrity bodies are filled with yes people.
Every government employee knows what really happens but we stay silent and collect our pay every fortnight. If we speak up we become a target.
As for Gwynne – didn’t she get a huge payout and golden reference. Probably in some high paying executive role down south by now. Living the dream having survived a politically motivated career execution. A proper investigation would have uncovered years of similar offending.
Public servants have watched governments at all levels make unconscionable appointments of mates and cronies to a multiplicity of boards, committees and even diplomatic postings. That sets an unfortunate standard about probity, integrity, decency and abandoning the merit principle. Then the failure of Ministers, and their creations like the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Territory’s own Independent Commission Against Corruption, to do anything, completes the public’s erosion of confidence. And erodes any caution about repeating such behaviors. When there are no consequences, there are no deterrents. I have watched the deterioration of such behaviors since the late 1980’s when the concept of ‘Permanent Heads’ for departments was removed. Governments have been free to make political appointments to senior positions on a contract arrangement. It is self-evident that a senior public servant will have an eye to contract renewal when weighting their advice to Ministers. The days of ‘frank and fearless advice’ for the most part have gone.
The days of frank and fearless advice as per the late “Herbert Cole “Nugget” Coombs” are dead, buried and cremated and substandard groupthink is sadly in place these days.
Do i detect a few double standards at huge cost to the taxpayer?? The NT public service needs a good broom through the lot, predominately the upper echelons. Has been needed for some time.
What we have seen happen to date, absolutely nothing , is a massive green light for every corrupt public servant we have. Corruption and nepotism is rife. It is becoming a stench that will be the downfall of this government.
Former NT Commissioner for Public Employment Mr. Graham Symons on 14 December 2011 in a former Employment Instruction Number 12 – Code of Conduct – in Number 7.1 – states pursuant to section 16 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) [PSEMA] states –
“7.1. In order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the Northern Territory Public Sector, a Public Sector Officer must exhibit and be seen to exhibit the highest ethical standards in carrying out his or her duties, and must pursue, and be seen to pursue, the best interests of the people of the Northern Territory”.
Section 5F (1) of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) states “a public sector office must do the following: (a) carry out the officer’s duties as follows (i) objectively, impartially, professionally and with integrity.”
Section 5F (d) of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (NT) states “avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal or other interests and duties as a public sector officer.”
“independent panel member identified by sources as NT Police lawyer”
hold up
In any other jurisdiction in Australia the malicious police investigation into Colleen Gwynne and subsequent incompetent and costly prosecution by DPP would have been investigated by an ICAC (or equivalent) or judicial inquiry with wide terms of reference. In the Territory no one is ever responsible or accountable and the Government and its Agencies run dead when substantive issues of probity arise. The NT ICAC is incompetent and dysfunctional and should be abolished (with appropriate transitional arrangements of course). It is not too late address these matters. What will the Territory’s new Government do in the public interest?
There was nothing malicious about the prosecution of Gwynne. The incompetent Prosecutors fluffed it, likely deliberately, as to succeed would send a clear message across government and multiple executives would follow. For what it’s worth, AGD HR was approached by 2 whistle-blowers in 2017 and the HR expert did nothing other than inform his boss who then went straight to Gwynne and told her what the allegations were and who made the approach. The bullying and reprisal that followed was intense.
The current acting ICAC was the AGD CE at the time and had the opportunity then to do what should have been done but obviously ignored the rules and turned a blind eye.
Once joined, the ECO Club is untouchable because the integrity bodies are filled with yes people.
Every government employee knows what really happens but we stay silent and collect our pay every fortnight. If we speak up we become a target.
As for Gwynne – didn’t she get a huge payout and golden reference. Probably in some high paying executive role down south by now. Living the dream having survived a politically motivated career execution. A proper investigation would have uncovered years of similar offending.
Public servants have watched governments at all levels make unconscionable appointments of mates and cronies to a multiplicity of boards, committees and even diplomatic postings.
That sets an unfortunate standard about probity, integrity, decency and abandoning the merit principle.
Then the failure of Ministers, and their creations like the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Territory’s own Independent Commission Against Corruption, to do anything, completes the public’s erosion of confidence. And erodes any caution about repeating such behaviors.
When there are no consequences, there are no deterrents.
I have watched the deterioration of such behaviors since the late 1980’s when the concept of ‘Permanent Heads’ for departments was removed. Governments have been free to make political appointments to senior positions on a contract arrangement.
It is self-evident that a senior public servant will have an eye to contract renewal when weighting their advice to Ministers. The days of ‘frank and fearless advice’ for the most part have gone.
The days of frank and fearless advice as per the late “Herbert Cole “Nugget” Coombs” are dead, buried and cremated and substandard groupthink is sadly in place these days.
Do i detect a few double standards at huge cost to the taxpayer?? The NT public service needs a good broom through the lot, predominately the upper echelons. Has been needed for some time.