Parliament House shock as bureaucrats’ offices are raided by corruption watchdog following romance scandal

A senior official confirmed that the offices of the bureaucrats who run Parliament were raided by the National Anti-Corruption Commission months after revelations about their boss’s love life.

Department of Parliamentary Services acting secretary Jaala Hinchcliffe confirmed the raid while presenting Senate estimates on Monday, where she was questioned about developments in her department, which has been marred by claims painting a toxic culture.

“I can confirm that the NACC executed arrest warrants against the Department of Parliamentary Services,” he said.

“Any questions regarding this activity and any investigation the NACC may be conducting should be referred to the NACC, as I am aware that discussing issues may inadvertently identify persons of interest, prematurely damage reputations and/or compromise the right of a individual to an impartial decision.

Hinchcliffe said she was informed of the raid the day before and did not reveal why it was carried out.

She was appearing before senators in place of DPS Secretary Rob Stefanic, who took indefinite leave in the days after the NACC action.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Stefanic was in a romantic relationship with her former undersecretary Cate Saunders. He has denied that they had a romantic relationship while working together.

Ms Saunders left public service with a “retirement incentive” payment of around $315,000.

Hinchcliffe said he ordered an independent investigation into the payment after receiving a complaint.

‘I would like to advise that after a DPS employee raised concerns with me about whether the department had followed the correct processes in making the retirement incentive payment, I engaged Dr Fiona Roughley SC to carry out an independent investigation into determination of facts about the role of the department. in the incentive to pay retirement,” said Ms Hinchcliffe.

NewsWire has contacted the NACC for comment.