Ombudsman blasts culture of fear and secrecy in public service under Daniel Andrews - 9News

Victoria's ombudsman has blasted a culture of fear and secrecy in the public service under former premier Daniel Andrews, in a new report.

Deborah Glass said too many senior bureaucrats were afraid of career suicide to speak up, or speak out, while handing down the findings of a two-year probe.

The claims have been dismissed by the government.

Victoria's ombudsman has blasted a culture of fear and secrecy in the public service under former Premier Daniel Andrews, in a new report. (Getty)

The Ombudsman spent two years looking into claims Labor allies were being put into senior roles to do the Andrews government's bidding.

"We did not find widespread stacking of the public service with ALP activists," Glass said.

That finding was seized on by Victoria's Treasurer, Tim Pallas.

"Not one example of party political appointments... you might forgive me for saying... it would appear that the state has been told it's conducted itself appropriately," Pallas said today.

However, that's not so says the watchdog.

"We did find a public sector that had been politicised in other equally pervasive ways," Glass said.

Deborah Glass said too many senior bureaucrats were afraid of career suicide to speak up, or speak out, while handing down the findings of a two-year probe. (Nine)

Her 280-page report lays out a repeated sentiment that "people were generally 'shit scared' of upsetting the government" and "that speaking candidly could amount to 'career suicide'".

"The fear factor was certainly disturbing," Glass said

However, Pallas said "this suggestion that there's a culture of fear could not be further from the truth"".

The Ombudsman is concerned too about when advice isn't sought, like with the Suburban Rail Loop which was "directly tied to the ALP's electoral prospects" and developed "in secret" by Development Victoria and consultants.

"The lack of rigorous public sector scrutiny over such projects before they are announced poses obvious risks to public funds," Glass said.

Pallas again answered the accusations.

Victoria's Treasurer, Tim Pallas said "the suggestion that there's a culture of fear could not be further from the truth". (Nine)

"Government can get and should get and should keep the right to get advice and come up with ideas from outside the public service echo chamber," Pallas said.

"When public servants are put under pressure to remain silent or they're excluded from processes, we all as Victorians suffer," Opposition leader John Pesutto said.

The ombudsman's recommendations to government include changing contracts for senior staff so they can't be fired at will by a minister, and lifting the veil on cabinet deliberations.

They're suggestions Glass hopes are taken up.

"You ignore recommendations like this and reports like this at your peril," she said.

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2023-12-06 10:36:08Z
CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvcG9saXRpY3MtdmljdG9yaWFuLWdvdmVybm1lbnQtcHVibGljLXNlcnZpY2UtZGFuaWVsLWFuZHJld3MtcmVwb3J0L2VlZDhlMjNmLTdiYjItNDFlNC05YmQxLWNlYTAxYTk0NDFkONIBRWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLjluZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9hcnRpY2xlL2VlZDhlMjNmLTdiYjItNDFlNC05YmQxLWNlYTAxYTk0NDFkOA

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