A review has found that staff working for the Governor-General don’t have the necessary skills, workplace harmony or diversity. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Staff at Government House think they’re better than other public servants, have shown little regard for accountability and fiscal responsibility, and have operated in a dysfunctional work environment where bullying reigns and accountability is lacking.
And that’s just for starters.
An independent review into the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General has uncovered a vast list of historical allegations of a workplace where personal information is inappropriately shared, staff are harassed and where live in fear of reprisals if they speak out.
They also lack the diversity of modern Australia and the technical skills to properly support the work of the Governor-General.
On the appointment of Sam Mostyn as Governor-General, the Federal Government commissioned highly respected former public servant Vivienne Thom to conduct an independent review of the office of the G-G’s official secretary.
The review took just over two months and was delivered to the government in November last year.
But it was only just released publicly last Tuesday (26 August) and was somewhat redacted before being published on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website.
To describe the review as damning of the office would be an understatement.
Dr Thom has called for an “external intervention” and complete overhaul of the office.
“This review questions whether staff at the office possess the full suite of capabilities to support the Governor-General to be ‘optimistic, modern and visible’,” the report states.
“It recommends external intervention by engaging a senior level strategic advisor to work directly with the Governor-General providing high-level strategic advice and support and driving the Governor-General’s themes, priorities and values with staff.”
The review is not directed at Ms Mostyn or her predecessor David Hurley.
Ms Mostyn was appointed in July last year, along with a new Official Secretary, Gerard Martin.
The review is focused primarily on the staff at the office and mostly covers the period before Ms Mostyn was appointed.
It makes 22 recommendations to improve performance.
“The review found that the current accountability arrangements may not be clear and recommended that the office should ensure that appropriate accountability arrangements are in place to recognise key relationships with the Prime Minister and portfolio Secretary,” it states.
“The review observed that there were no clear links between corporate objectives and team-based or individual target in the office.
“Performance management is also inconsistent. The office operated at a deficit in 2023-24. It will need to demonstrate rigorous cost control as well as obtain additional resources to maintain its current level of activity.
“The review noted the recent improvement in capability in financial management but observed that this capability is not consistent across the office … There is a lack of career progression within the agency and succession planning is challenging.
“These problems are accentuated by a tendency by staff to overstate the special nature of their work rather than look to other agencies for advice.”
One recommendation is that staff at Government House be no longer employed under the Governor General Act 1974, but instead be engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 to “facilitate better transfer of skills and staff”.
They should also be included in the Australian Public Service Commission’s employee census.
Strategies should be implemented to increase the diversity of staff to foster modern thinking and “new ideas and different perspectives”, as well as to ensure the workforce is alert to cultural and other biases.
The review also notes that the provision of IT services presents a particular challenge to the office.
It recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the office should identify an appropriate provider and negotiate a shared service arrangement for the full range of IT services.
But any such arrangement entered into must have a robust assurance framework for governance.
Another issue involved Order of Australia recognitions, with the report saying some nominees are either dying or becoming “very elderly” before getting theirs because the office is taking far too long to process them.
This is resulting in too many posthumous awards being granted for lifetime achievements.
Staff turnover is also extremely high, with 24 employees leaving and 23 starting in 2023-24 alone – with the average staffing level being 83 in that year.
Staff are located and manage Government House in Yarralumla as well as Admiralty House in Sydney.
“The review received anecdotal information about reasons for the high staff turnover, including allegations of bullying and harassment, inappropriate sharing of personal information, senior management not being receptive to new ideas and innovation, as well as the lack of opportunities for advancement,” the review states.
“Anecdotal evidence also suggested that allegations of unacceptable conduct had not always been properly addressed or that staff had been reluctant to complain because of fear of repercussions.”
The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General has welcomed the review and agreed in principle with its recommendations.
