Jaala Hinchcliffe addresses Rob Stefanic's absence from DPS

The Canberra Times

Acting Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Jaala Hinchcliffe gives an opening statement to Senate estimates in November 2024, addressing Rob Stefanic's leave, corruption watchdog raids and an internal review into a controversial staffing transfer.

Transcript

00:00I welcome Ms Zsala Hindcliffe, Acting Secretary and other officers of the Department of Parliamentary

00:07Services.

00:08Ms Hindcliffe, do you wish to make an opening statement?

00:11I do, thank you Chair.

00:14Chair and members of the Committee, thank you firstly for this opportunity to appear

00:18before the Committee and provide an opening statement relating to ongoing matters at the

00:24Department of Parliamentary Services.

00:26I will provide a copy of this statement for tabling and for the reference of the Committee.

00:33As the Committee would be aware, Mr Stefanik, Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary

00:38Services is on leave.

00:40The Department does not comment on the basis of individual leave arrangements.

00:45As Mr Stefanik is on leave, this is my first appearance before the Committee as Acting

00:49Secretary, having been appointed by the presiding officers.

00:53Ms Nicola Hinder, PSM, who is also at the table with me today, started with DPS on 8

00:58October this year.

01:00Ms Hinder is Acting Deputy Secretary while I am Acting Secretary.

01:05My DPS colleagues and I welcome the opportunity to answer your questions today.

01:10The work of the Department remains an absolute priority and I am pleased with the dedication

01:15and efforts of DPS staff in progressing a number of important outcomes and facilitating

01:20key events since our last appearance at this Committee.

01:24There are two matters which I wish to address with the Committee prior to answering questions.

01:29On the first of these matters, I confirm that I have asked the National Anti-Corruption

01:33Commission whether the information I am providing in this opening statement will impact or impede

01:38their investigations.

01:40The NAC has advised me that it will not.

01:43As reported in the media last month, the National Anti-Corruption Commission attended Parliament

01:48House on 3 October this year in relation to an ongoing investigation.

01:53I can confirm that the NAC executed warrants from the Department of Parliamentary Services.

01:58Any questions about this activity and any investigation that the NAC might be undertaking

02:03should be referred to the NAC, as I am conscious that discussing matters may inadvertently

02:08identify persons of interest, prematurely damage reputations and or compromise an individual's

02:15right to impartial adjudication.

02:18Should further matters be raised about the NAC activity at this hearing, I will refer

02:22to what I have just included in my statement.

02:25Secondly, in the May 2024 Estimates hearings, questions were asked about the secondment

02:32and incentive to retire payment made to a previous Department of Parliamentary Services

02:36Deputy Secretary.

02:38After the May 2024 hearing, I wrote two letters to the Committee Chair, clarifying my testimony.

02:42Both these letters are now part of the public record.

02:46I would like to advise that after concerns were raised with me by a DPS employee about

02:50whether the Department had followed correct processes in making the incentive to retire

02:55payment, I engaged Dr Fiona Ruffley SC to conduct an independent fact-finding investigation

03:02into the Department's role in the incentive to retire payment.

03:06As this remains a matter undergoing independent investigation by Dr Ruffley SC, I am unable

03:14to provide further comment on this matter, but will update the Committee at an appropriate

03:18time.

03:19Finally, Senators, as we are a month away from the end of 2024, I would like to express

03:25my sincere appreciation to all DPS staff for their dedication, hard work and support throughout

03:31the year.

03:33We can all see their efforts every day when we walk around this magnificent building.

03:36I'd like to thank them for their care and diligence.

03:39My colleagues and I are now happy to answer any questions.

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