In his element: Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman with ACT RFS Chief Officer Rohan Scott at a media event earlier in the year at ESA’s Hume base. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Mick Gentleman has an interesting take on ministerial responsibility.
The Emergency Services Minister has called the damning findings of a review of the Emergency Services Agency leadership a “public service administration matter”.
Nothing to do with him.
This is despite him being in charge of the portfolio for more than six years, and the findings of bullying, a culture of blame, a lack of trust, chaotic structure and poor communication only reinforcing what was known in 2017 when a staff survey found a “toxic” culture within the ESA.
Mr Gentleman had no hesitation in backing Commissioner Georgeina Whelan then and did it again when the review was announced.
That prompted firefighters union boss Greg McConville and Canberra Liberals spokesperson James Milligan to call for another minister, such as Chief Minister Andrew Barr or Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury, to take the matter out of Mr Gentleman’s hands and implement the report’s recommendations.
Mr Gentleman’s comments seem to suggest he would be all too happy to leave it up to someone else.
“There are of course concerning findings in the report, which is why implementation of the recommendations and culture change in the ESA is so important,” he said.
“I am confident this work can be successfully undertaken in collaboration with staff, stakeholders and under the leadership of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate.”
But all this begs the question: just what is Mr Gentleman’s role?
Under our system of government, these are matters on his watch – matters that have been left to fester for six years.
The government is already conducting a difficult culture repair job at Canberra Health Services, dealing with similar complaints.
It can ill afford to have another important area of government in turmoil threatening staff churn when such skills are in high demand, especially the very agency on which Canberrans depend in a crisis.
Mr Gentleman will gladly turn up for a media event such as the unveiling of a new helicopter or fire truck but it seems that when a key organisation is in need, it’s not his responsibility.
Unfortunately, this is part of a pattern of light touch and deference to public servants that has marked his time as minister across his portfolios, particularly the all-important planning.
Mr Gentleman of course is not the only one to handpass responsibility to the public officials who are supposed to be serving him.
At the federal level, ministerial responsibility seems to be a quaint notion from the past. Just look at the Robodebt scandal and the line-up of ministers ducking and weaving.
The ACT is only a year and a bit out from an election. If Mr Gentleman is not prepared to accept his responsibilities in any meaningful way, now would be a good time for the Chief Minister to find someone who will, and have them settled in Cabinet by poll time.
The government needs ministers who will shoulder more than just media opportunities, show leadership and nip problems in the bud when they arise, not leave them to undermine the delivery of crucial services.
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