“The question of integrity applies not just to the Commonwealth Public Service, but also to the ACT public service. In some ways, the structure of the ACT with its directorates instead of ministries exacerbates the problem,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE. 

THE most fundamental challenge in public life is maintaining trust. This challenge is not limited to our political leaders and local members but applies across all leaders who have a public profile. 

Journalists, industry leaders, the heads of non-government organisations and other professionals have the responsibility to both build and maintain trust.

Our public service leaders have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the public service while “implementing government policies in a way that is free from bias, and in accordance with the law” is fundamental to retaining trust. Thanks to the recent revelations involving Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo it should now be a time of reflection for these leaders.

Sports rorts along with multiple ministries held by the former prime minister indicate recent multiple failures of the public service. When such failures occur, the integrity of the public service, the integrity of political processes and the integrity of our democratic system come into question.

As Andrew Podger, a former Australian Public Service Commissioner, pointed out in “The Conversation”, the Public Service Act provides clear guidance. Senior public servants, in particular, must uphold and promote the APS values and employment principles.

He draws attention to one of those values – impartiality. “The APS is apolitical and provides the government with advice that is frank, honest, timely and based on the best available evidence”. In my view, the establishment of short-term contracts for the most senior of public servants was a key element in politicising the public service and undermining integrity and trust. 

Investigations into misconduct of any senior public servant is a serious matter and requires great care in following proper processes. Integrity commissioners do exist in both federal and ACT systems, and it may be that these are the organisations most suitable to carry out investigations into alleged failures in integrity.

However, in the Pezzullo case, it is appropriate that the former Public Service Commissioner, Lynelle Briggs, investigates the allegations that have been raised in the media. 

Ms Briggs understands the import and detail of the Public Service Act and is well placed to take an overview, to examine the issues in detail and ensure that proper process is followed.

On face value, it is hard to believe that Mike Pezzullo will be returned to his position as secretary of such a large and powerful department. And certainly not to the one that he played such a key role in amassing over quite a number of years during the term of the conservative governments.

The question of integrity applies not just to the Commonwealth Public Service, but also to the ACT public service. In some ways, the structure of the ACT with its directorates instead of ministries exacerbates the problem. 

This is especially true for those heads of directorates who are obliged to handle divided loyalties. They are required to work to the head of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate as well as their own minister.

On its own website the Chief Minister’s Directorate claims to “lead the public sector and works collaboratively both within government and with the community to achieve positive outcomes”. Its role is to “provide strategic advice and support to the Chief Minister, the Directorate’s Ministers and the Cabinet on policy, economic and financial matters, and service delivery”.

It seems to me that the divided loyalty embedded in the system of directorates creates far greater challenges to maintain trust, impartiality, and integrity.

In August 2022, the Director-General of the Chief Minister’s Directorate and head of the ACT Public Service, Kathy Leigh, expressed concern about corruption within the ACT public service when she told an estimates committee of the outcomes of a staff survey that was answered by 5664 public servants. 

The survey identified “the fact that 340 public servants said they had witnessed corruption”. She added: “If you extrapolate that representative sample size to the entire ACTPS, that’s 1505 employees who say they have witnessed corruption”.

As Mr Podger warns: “The Pezzullo story points to serious systemic problems in the Australian Public Service”. Let’s hope that all departmental heads across all jurisdictional public services are using this situation as a springboard to consider how such systemic problems can be resolved.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.