Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Marty Silk

Former official wants Qld integrity probe

Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov is among Queensland watchdogs who have recently resigned. (AAP)

Former Queensland state archivist Mike Summerell says "everyone knows" the state government has an integrity problem and there must be an inquiry.

Mr Summerell has called for a probe three days after revealing he was forced out of his record-keeping role last year after it became "compromised" by years by potential interference.

He says there must be an inquiry into government integrity, particularly a culture where public servants are encouraged to put the government's political interest over the public interest.

The former archivist also believes the state's integrity watchdogs must be given complete operational and financial independence.

"They need to be able to give frank and fearless advice and not feel they may suffer the consequences if they give an opinion or advice that the government of the day will not like or is embarrassing to them," Mr Summerell wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday morning.

"Integrity officials need complete independence - operationally and financially ... they cannot be "threatened" or impeded by those they are seeking to monitor. Democracy needs to have checks and balances when some are given significant power over others.

"Stop saying there is nothing to see here ... everyone knows there is, stop putting the political interest above the public interest. Do the right thing."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she rejected the idea there was any "culture of fear" in the public service and said public servants were expected to give fearless and frank advice to the government.

She also said public sector workers were also encouraged to report any cultural issues to their superiors.

"People have the right to come forward and raise any issues that they have," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

"I can't say anything more than that.

"Just like they do in your news organisations, I'm quite sure if there's cultural issues there they can raise it with their management."

Mr Summerell's post comes as the Liberal National Party calls for Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch to be sacked after she told parliament last March that Mr Summerell decided not to renew his five-year contract and would move to New Zealand.

The state government has since revealed that Mr Summerell was offered a contract extension, but only for three months.

LNP leader David Crisafulli said Ms Enoch had been "loose with the truth" as the archivist actually wanted to continue on, but had only been offered "a little bit of time to clear out his desk".

Katter's Australian Party and Greens MPs backed an inquiry last week after the resignations of Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov and Crime and Corruption (CCC) chairman Alan MacSporran.

Dr Stepanov, who finishes her role in June, and Mr Summerell have both complained of "interference" in their roles.

The premier confirmed on Friday the CCC was probing a complaint made by the integrity commissioner against the Public Service Commission.

Dr Stepanov said earlier this week that the PSC had confiscated a laptop from her office and later deleted its contents "without my knowledge or consent" last year.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.