Canberra bureaucrats have been warned against secretly briefing the Opposition in the aftermath of the OzCar affair as the Government pushes for an investigation by a powerful parliamentary committee.
Australian Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs warned yesterday that leakers were not whistleblowers.
''Whistleblower s maintain the integrity of the system by seeking to correct perceived wrongs through reporting to authorised authorities,'' Ms Briggs said.
''Leaking, whatever the motive, destroys the trust between the Government and the public service and makes it harder to carry out our responsibilities. It undermines public confidence in the independence and non-partisan nature of the public service and is unacceptable practice for any public servant.''
The warning came after Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said ''whistleblowers and leaks'' were part of the Canberra culture.
He said the Opposition was hoodwinked by Treasury official Godwin Grech, ''Someone who appeared to be a well-intentioned whistleblower [concerned] about alleged cronyism in the Government.''
Ms Briggs said yesterday it was not ''commonplace'' for public servants to meet and brief the Opposition before senate committee hearings.
It should never occur without the knowledge and consent of their agency head or minister.
''The integrity of the Australian Public Service is fundamental to its good standing, its credibility and its legitimacy as an important national institution,'' she said.
More in today's Canberra Times
Email a friend