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Sosso appearing before a budget estimates hearing last July.

The rumour surrounding a top public servant that won’t go away

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus details Sosso departure goss, Ombudsman staff woes, inquiry’s mind the gap’ on racism, and more.

  • Matt Dennien and James Hall

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Interim Commissioner Brett Pointing said the department had been “living beyond its means”.

The $400m budget hole to spread hiring squeeze to police ranks

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus looks at precarious police finances, a floated department rebuild, “Project Invisibility” and more.

  • Matt Dennien and James Hall
Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow, president of Jigsaw Queensland, said the inquiry heard of adoption “largely as a policy mechanism rather than as a lived experience that continues across an entire lifespan”.

Adoption fix for child safety needs ‘robust safeguards’, service says

Queensland’s major forced adoption service provider has warned the government it must consider lifelong consequences as it forms its response to a major inquiry.

  • Matt Dennien
David Crisafulli during his first estimates as Premier.

AI-instruction raises eyebrows in government department

Also in Public Circus: an own goal for the Games authority and all hands on deck for a bargaining agreement at City Hall.

  • James Hall, Cameron Atfield and William Davis
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls speaking on Saturday.

Health minister confirms there will be no cuts to mental health levy

A $1.2 billion mental health levy will not be scrapped, the state government has confirmed, despite a damning report that questioned the management of the levy. 

  • Cloe Read
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls.

No system to check how $1.2b levy is spent: auditor-general

The 50-page report found the mental health levy was raising millions more than expected, but had no system to manage how funds were spent, or whether they were achieving intended outcomes.

  • Courtney Kruk
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Jeff Seeney

Ex-deputy premier and chief spinner reunite around regional water cooler

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus circles Sunwater and CS Energy, a council U-turn on e-bikes, arts funding funny business, and more.

  • Matt Dennien and Felicity Caldwell
Queensland Treasury is looking to fill an executive role focused on “financial efficiencies”, as the Crisafulli government chases

Treasury hunts ‘financial efficiencies’ figure as hiring squeeze spreads

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus finds more budgets bearing down, consultants cracking on, an ombudsman out the door, and more.

  • Matt Dennien and James Hall
Urban Utilities chief executive Paul Arnold.

SEQ water boss to step down after three years at the helm

Paul Arnold was appointed chief executive of the government-owned corporation Urban Utilities in 2022, and will leave in October this year.

  • Julius Dennis
Patients at Prince Charles Hospital now have the chance of living a longer, healthier life with a major facility upgrade.

Mind the byelection for Metro North chief in curious committee call-up

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus details a health service’s political run-in, a council’s AI warning, Powerlink’s (coming) new boss, and more.

  • Matt Dennien