The Victorian Ombudsman expressed deep concern over the number of staff members in the Victorian government who were hesitant to voice their opinions. Treasurer Tim Pallas admitted that there has been a relaxation of control under the new Premier Jacinta Allan. This admission came shortly after the release of a report by the Victorian ombudsman which revealed “creeping politicization” and a “culture of fear” in the upper echelons of the public sector. Pallas emphasized that this observation was not a criticism of former premiers, but rather an acknowledgment of Premier Allan’s leadership style.
Following her late September appointment as the 49th premier of Victoria, Ms. Allan promised that her leadership style would be driven by values such as hard work, equality of opportunity, working families, and environmental protection. Despite hailing from the same socialist left faction as her predecessor, Daniel Andrews, Allan appears to have adopted a less centralized approach to government, according to Pallas.
In the ombudsman’s report, it was revealed that Premier Andrews had as many staffers as the Australian prime minister and New South Wales premier combined, which prompted concerns about the decisions that were made in “echo chambers” and the lack of scrutiny from expert career officials. The ombudsman expressed deep concern over the trend of “creeping politicization” and the fear of repercussions for those who speak up within the public sector.
The report indicated that the Ombudsman was “deeply troubled” by the number of individuals who were afraid to speak up. Despite an overwhelming response to the request for submissions, many were still afraid to speak on the record due to concerns about the impact on their careers. This fear has led to the quickening corrosion of longstanding principles of responsible government in the public sector.