The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has welcomed the government's move to ensure former agency heads can be properly investigated and sanctioned for alleged misconduct, including those named in the Robodebt Royal Commission report.
The union, which represents staff who work in Services Australia, has long fought for former agency boss and Robodebt architect, Kathryn Campbell, to face consequences for the key role she played in the scheme.
This week, the government will propose changes to the Public Service Act 1999, enabling the Australian Public Service Commissioner to investigate former agency heads, such as Campbell, for breaches of the APS Code of Conduct.
This change will align the expectations of APS heads, with those that former APS employees already face.
This change to the Public Service Act is crucial for restoring public trust and ensuring that all public servants, regardless of their position or tenure, uphold the highest standards of conduct.
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:
"The proposed amendments to the Public Service Act are a critical step towards rebuilding trust and ensuring that all public servants, regardless of their role or tenure, are held to the highest standards of accountability.
"Kathryn Campbell walked out of the Royal Commission and into a well-paid senior gig as an AUKUS Advisor in Defence on $900,000 a year.
"For too long, those at the top of the Robodebt scheme have evaded accountability when they should have been facing the consequences of their actions.
"Frontline public sector workers face consequences for misconduct, so it is outrageous that former agency heads would suggest they are above the law.
"Robodebt was a cruel and illegal scheme that had devastating impacts across this country. The damage it did was far-reaching and much of it cannot be undone.
"For many our members who were on the frontline at the time of this scheme, there cannot be closure without accountability.
"They want to see accountability for themselves, their colleagues and for all the lives that were harmed by the Robodebt scheme.
