Three former police media executives given nearly $700,000 as separation pay
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has announced a review of the state's Government Sector Employment Act after three former police media executives received nearly $700,000 as separation payments.
Minns said the review will focus on the provisions related to separation payments to senior public servants, news.com.au reported.
"It's public money, it's taxpayer money, and I can understand community concern about those separation payments," he said as quoted by the news outlet.
The Government Sector Employment Act provides the "statutory framework for NSW government sector employment and workforce management."
Massive separation payments
The review of the legislation comes after The Guardian revealed that the state paid a total of $687,000 to three former NSW police media executives over the past two years.
According to the report, the recipients of the massive payouts include Liz Deegan, who was terminated in March this year after criticism over the media strategy of the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Deegan replaced Alexandra Hodgkinson, who was also terminated less than a year after getting the role.
Hodgkinson replaced Grant Williams, who was the former top media adviser of the previous commissioner before being dismissed by Commissioner Karen Webb when she assumed the position two years ago.
According to The Guardian, it was not known how the nearly $700,000 payouts were divided among the three individuals.
Separation pay aligned with legislation
The NSW Police defended that the separation pay was in compliance with legislation, which states that employees should be given the equivalent of 38 weeks of pay if they get terminated before the end of their contracted term.
The organisation later hired veteran journalist Steve Jackson for the role vacated by Deegan, but this was cancelled two weeks after appointment.
"To best serve the interests of the NSW Police and community, the Executive Director, Public Affairs Branch needs to be able to fulfil the duties of the role free from external distractions and ongoing media attention," the NSW Police statement read as quoted by ABC News.
According to the report, Webb has so far refused to disclose how much Jackson was paid.
