Queensland Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov’s emotional revelation of misogynistic slur by Public Service Commission boss

Queensland’s Integrity Commissioner has revealed the head of the state’s Public Service Commission called her a “b***h on a witch hunt” during a phone call in 2018.

At a Parliamentary Committee looking into the functions of the Office of the Integrity Commission, an emotional Dr Nikola Stepanov confirmed Public Service Commission Chief Executive Robert Setter had made the comments.

Pointing to recent media reports, Opposition MP Dan Purdie asked Dr Stepanov if she had ever been directly called a “b***h on a witch hunt”.

Mr Purdie was asked to withdraw the comments for unparliamentary language, which he did, and instead asked if Dr Stepanov had ever been the subject of misogynistic language similar to what was reported in the media.

Dr Stepanov said comments of that nature had been made to her.

Dr Stepanov is Queensland’s first female Integrity Commissioner since starting the role in 2017.

After being asked by Mr Purdie who made those comments, Dr Stepanov revealed it was Mr Setter.

“I was called that term by the Public Service Commission Chief Executive,” she said.

“I had already heard it but then I was called that term by him in a phone call on or about 4 April, 2018.”

Outside the hearing, when asked if she had made a complaint about the comments, Dr Stepanov said she would not discuss what steps she may have taken in regards to the incident.

“But obviously, I would have raised those concerns,” she said.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for the Queensland Integrity Commissioner’s budget, staffing and resources.

Mr Setter has been head of the Public Service Commission since 2017.

The ABC has contacted Mr Setter for comment in response to the allegations.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also been contacted for comment.

The allegations come as Dr Stepanov called for a Commission of Inquiry into “the multitude of integrity related issues” within the state government that have been alleged by former and outgoing public servants in recent months.

Professor Peter Coaldrake is conducting a review into culture and accountability in the state’s public sector, which Dr Stepanov has criticised for having a limited scope.

Integrity Commissioner to stay on

In January, Dr Stepanov gave notice to Ms Palaszczuk that she would step down as head of the Integrity Commission half way through her second term in July this year to take on another role.

However, today Dr Stepanov confirmed in the Parliamentary hearing that she had again written to the Premier to inform her she would now be staying until December due to an ongoing investigation by the state’s corruption watchdog.

“Since that time I’ve come to learn and I continue to learn of the nature and scope of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s investigations into my office, and other matters concerning ethics and integrity,” she said.

“About which I consider there to be a public expectation of transparency.

“Further I’ve become aware about the nature and circumstances concerning a referral made to the [Economics and Governance] committee.

“These matters would certainly have had a bearing on the proposed timing of my effective end date had I been made aware of them when I notified the Premier in January.”

Last month, the CCC confirmed it was still investigating complaints relating to an office laptop being taken from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner.