Soviet-style culture runs state
Sydney Morning Herald
Soviet-style culture runs state: official
Andrew Clennell
March 10, 2007
A CULTURE of retribution exists for any public servant who speaks out against the State Government, the former TransGrid chairman Philip Higginson says.
Mr Higginson - axed by the Treasurer, Michael Costa, last year - likened the situation to the "USSR of the 1960s".
His comments follow criticism this week by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, of what he said was the Governments bullying of senior public servants out of offering frank and fearless advice.
Mr Higginson said he was sacked by Mr Costa for not reappointing to a superannuation board a candidate favoured by the Treasurer and the ALP state president, Bernie Riordan.
"There is no public servant willing to speak up, and there is no member of the management, nor any member of the board of any state-owned business that would dare stick his or her head above the trench to speak freely," he said yesterday.
Mr Higginson said a former senior bureaucrat had told him he believed "99 per cent of all employees and board members" were "under control". "It's a big number, but I believe it. I have seen it happening quietly and surreptitiously for several years now, but its accelerated after Bob Carr left office. It actually looks to me like the USSR in the 60s."
Mr Higginson's comments were backed by David Field, the former Sydney Ports corporation chairman. "I have both witnessed [bullying] and had it reported to me by others."
The Attorney-General, Bob Debus, called Mr Cowderys comments ill-considered. A spokesman for Mr Costa declined to comment on Mr Higginsons and Mr Field's comments.
A spokesman for the Premier, Morris Iemma, declined to comment because Mr Higginson's case was before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
COMMENT
And they need your vote with the Greens preferences to establish the gulags for those that do not comply with their ORDERS. Vote for anything but the Green Labor Coalition, for they have nothing but their own agenda in mind and does not include you. You have gotta be joking.
Soviet-style culture runs state: official
Andrew Clennell
March 10, 2007
A CULTURE of retribution exists for any public servant who speaks out against the State Government, the former TransGrid chairman Philip Higginson says.
Mr Higginson - axed by the Treasurer, Michael Costa, last year - likened the situation to the "USSR of the 1960s".
His comments follow criticism this week by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, of what he said was the Governments bullying of senior public servants out of offering frank and fearless advice.
Mr Higginson said he was sacked by Mr Costa for not reappointing to a superannuation board a candidate favoured by the Treasurer and the ALP state president, Bernie Riordan.
"There is no public servant willing to speak up, and there is no member of the management, nor any member of the board of any state-owned business that would dare stick his or her head above the trench to speak freely," he said yesterday.
Mr Higginson said a former senior bureaucrat had told him he believed "99 per cent of all employees and board members" were "under control". "It's a big number, but I believe it. I have seen it happening quietly and surreptitiously for several years now, but its accelerated after Bob Carr left office. It actually looks to me like the USSR in the 60s."
Mr Higginson's comments were backed by David Field, the former Sydney Ports corporation chairman. "I have both witnessed [bullying] and had it reported to me by others."
The Attorney-General, Bob Debus, called Mr Cowderys comments ill-considered. A spokesman for Mr Costa declined to comment on Mr Higginsons and Mr Field's comments.
A spokesman for the Premier, Morris Iemma, declined to comment because Mr Higginson's case was before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
COMMENT
And they need your vote with the Greens preferences to establish the gulags for those that do not comply with their ORDERS. Vote for anything but the Green Labor Coalition, for they have nothing but their own agenda in mind and does not include you. You have gotta be joking.
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