A senior executive in the Department of Home Affairs has been found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct by recruiting her sister’s fiancé while concealing the family connection.
A report released by the National Anti-Corruption Commission says the high-ranking female official – who joined the APS in 2011 and most recently was Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Home Affairs – breached the Public Service Act by spruiking her sister’s fiancé as a candidate for a position in the agency. In addition, she praised him to colleagues, created the job requisition, approved it herself and forged a witness signature to fast-track onboarding. She also provided interview questions to her sister in advance.
Home Affairs became aware of the misconduct in December 2023 when it received an integrity referral relating to the executive officer’s involvement in the departmental transfer. Following receipt of the referral, Home Affairs obtained emails relating to the recruitment.
In the course of the recruitment process, the official responded to a query as to how she had found the candidate – formerly employed by the Clean Energy Regulator as a Freedom of Information contact officer – by stating that he was a friend of a friend.
“I told them I knew him through a friend. Technically not true he just needs to play along! Also I’m the boss so they will do whatever I say,” she said in an email exchange with her sister.
In another exchange, the official said, “We’ll talk him through the lie.” Her sister responded, “… he’s so bad at lying he’s too honest.” She replied: “Well he’s gonna have to do better or I’ll get in trouble.”
A later email from the sister read: “Thank you again for helping … I know you gain nothing from it and you are putting yourself on the line for him so it’s truly appreciated xx.”
The commission found the public servant’s conduct was serious because of the seniority of her role, the deception involved and the significant benefit her actions provided in securing a public service appointment.
I told them I knew him through a friend.
The official stood down from her position in February 2024, pending the outcome of the NACC investigation. In June 2024 she resigned from Home Affairs – if the executive had failed to do so, the commission would have recommended that her employment be terminated.
Systemic nepotism, cronyism and undeclared conflicts of interest in APS recruitment have become an area of concern recently. In the 2024 Commonwealth Integrity Survey, public sector employees told the commission that nepo-hires are among the most frequently observed corrupt behaviours in the sector.
“Since the commission was established, we’ve received many referrals about recruitment and promotion in the APS,” National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton said.
The public servant’s behaviour “illustrates systemic risks in APS recruitment”, he added, and “reinforces the need for strong corruption prevention measures – including mandatory conflict of interest disclosures in all recruitment processes, and prevention of improper disclosures of official information.”
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