<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338959</docID> <postdate>2025-02-24 14:44:01</postdate> <headline>Department head was sacked following ‘loss of trust’</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-338960" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20240528177787715485-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1080" height="720" /></p> <caption>Senior public servant Rob Stefanic was sacked due to a 'loss of trust and confidence'. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Jacob Shteyman</b> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>A top public servant was terminated by the Commonwealth due to a "loss of trust and confidence" following rumours he had a close personal relationship with his deputy.</strong></p> <p>Former secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Rob Stefanic, was given a $153,660 payout from the taxpayer after being removed from his role in December, Senate President Sue Lines told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday.</p> <p>He had been on paid leave for the 10 weeks prior, following an inquiry into the department's role in a $315,000 exit package paid to Mr Stefanic's deputy secretary Cate Saunders.</p> <p>She left the public service in October 2023.</p> <p>Mr Stefanic said he had declared a conflict of interest, citing "malicious" rumours surrounding the pair's relationship.</p> <p>Senator Lines said she and Speaker of the House Milton Dick, who is a fellow presiding officer of the DPS, "concluded the appointment" of Mr Stefanic on December 17 "due to a loss of trust and confidence".</p> <p>"This decision was made after a report was considered by the parliamentary services commissioner and after procedural fairness had been afforded," she told Senate estimates.</p> <p>"It was a decision that was not taken lightly."</p> <p>Acting secretary Jaala Hinchcliffe said Mr Stefanic was eligible for compensation for early loss of office, as well as accrued leave entitlements.</p> <p>"The total net payment received was $153,660.04," she said.</p> <p>Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer is continuing to search for a replacement secretary, telling the hearing four candidates have been short-listed.</p> </body>