University union calls for Leon to step down over Robodebt

Charles Sturt University is backing its Vice-Chancellor Renée Leon despite adverse findings against her in the public service’s Robodebt inquiry, but union leaders say staff at CSU don’t feel the same way and are calling on her to resign.

Ms Leon and Kathryn Campbell were both found to have breached the APS Code of Conduct by the Australian Public Service Commission in their handling of the illegal Robodebt scheme while secretaries of the Department of Human Services.

The report said they failed in their obligations a total of 25 times.

Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer found Ms Leon to have breached public service rules 13 times, including through misrepresentations of her former department’s legal position on income averaging, failures to correct or qualify that position and failures to expeditiously inform the responsible minister of advice on the lawfulness of the Robodebt scheme.

Both women have rejected the findings as they related to themselves, and Ms Leon has found some high-level support.

The university where she is now Vice-Chancellor issued a statement on the same day the APSC report was released.

“Charles Sturt University fully supports Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon in the wake of recent comments about the Robodebt program,” the statement said.

“Charles Sturt University is disappointed in the decision handed down by the Australian Public Service Commission and fully supports Professor Leon.

“Professor Leon’s actions in helping to end the Robodebt program were in keeping with the integrity she demonstrated as a dedicated public servant for 30 years, and which she has carried forward into her present role to the benefit of our students, staff and communities.

“We fully support her courageous and ultimately successful efforts to help end the Robodebt program, her transparent testimony at the subsequent Royal Commission, and her full and truthful account of her actions.”

Former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson also defended Ms Leon in a social media statement.

“While I am not privy to the deliberations of the APSC on Robodebt, I am surprised and disappointed with the findings made against Ms Leon,” he said.

“In the two decades I have known Ms Leon, I have never had any reason to doubt either her honesty or integrity.

“She has been a proud and conscientious public servant, always attempting to do what she believed was right.

“Moreover, I have no doubt that her decision to terminate Robodebt, having exhausted efforts to test its legality, played a very significant role in her subsequent termination by the Morrison government.”

But not everyone is so supportive of Ms Leon.

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has called for her to resign for having been found to have breached public service rules as part of her role in the Robodebt.

Ms Leon was the secretary of the Department of Human Services between 2017 and 2020 and has been the VC of CSU since 2021.

NTEU General Secretary Damien Cahill said Ms Leon must “resign immediately” as her role as Vice-Chancellor at CSU is now untenable.

“The Chancellor’s [Michele Allan] claim that Ms Leon has the full backing of the university completely ignores the fact staff want the vice-chancellor to resign,” Dr Hill said.

NTEU National President Alison Barnes agreed and further criticised the university’s defence of its VC.

“A public university should not be run by someone found to have breached public service rules more than a dozen times through their role in one of the greatest public policy disasters in Australian history,” Dr Barnes said.

“The Chancellor’s immediate defence of Ms Leon after the public service commissioner’s report was released raises serious questions about university leadership’s attitude to governance, integrity and accountability.”

Ms Leon’s own statement on the release of the APSC report defended her role on Robodebt.

“I am disappointed with the way the Australian Public Service Commission has come to its decision and I stand by the actions I took to get definitive legal advice and bring the Robodebt program to an end,” Ms Leon said.

“Robodebt had already been in operation for two years when I became secretary of Human Services. When legal doubts were raised, I sought definitive advice from the solicitor-general.

“I acted as expeditiously as possible to convince a government that was wedded to the Robodebt scheme that it had to be ceased.

“When ministers delayed, I directed it be stopped. Two weeks later, my role as secretary was terminated by a government that did not welcome frank and fearless advice.

“I acted with integrity and in accordance with the standards of the public service I served for 30 years. I testified before the Robodebt royal commission, which found that I acted in good faith, and which did not refer me to the APSC or the National Anti-Corruption Commission or any other investigative process.”