Courtney review concerns

THE Government has defended its inquiry into Sarah Courtney’s relationship with her department head as independent of the Premier’s office after the public sector union raised concerns about the review process.

The Bass MHA recently stepped down from the Primary Industries portfolio while a conflict of interest investiga- tion takes place into her relationship with the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment secretary John Whittington.

Dr Whittington has taken personal leave from his position.

The Opposition yesterday echoed the Community and Public Sector Union’s con- cerns that the conflict of interest review would be too narrow and that staff were not free to provide evidence unless cleared by “a person in authority to do so”.

Labor transparency committee chairwoman Jo Siejka said: “Because the Premier has been unwilling to answer the pertinent question about when Ms Courtney’s relationship with her department secretary began, that investigation must look at every decision she was involved with since she joined his ministry in March.”

A government spokesman said the review was being conducted independent of Premier Will Hodgman and his office and would examine every decision Ms Courtney had made.

“We are not going to preempt the outcome of this independent review. The Premier will have more to say once it has been concluded,” the spokesman said.

The Government has not said when the review will be completed.