'Serious concerns, widespread bullying': DPS staff demand answers from secretary

Liberal Senator and shadow special minister of state James McGrath has been taking anonymous tip-offs from DPS employees after posting a call-out on social media.

One email sent to the tellusthetruthaboutdps@gmail.com account, seen by The Canberra Times, outlined "serious concerns about DPS" including "widespread bullying and discrimination".

The former DPS employee said their concerns were based on "both my own experiences there and those of the many current and former DPS staff who have shared their stories with me".

They claimed the department was plagued by a "culture where staff are scared to report workplace abuse or misconduct" and had failed to hold those responsible accountable, giving specific examples of alleged discrimination based on gender and medical grounds.

This masthead obtained the email independently of Senator McGrath, who declined to share any details "out of respect for anonymity".

Senator McGrath said his office had set up the tellusthetruthaboutdps@gmail.com account "for people to anonymously send in their experiences and concerns so that I can best represent real views and concerns when questioning this department".

"It's clear from the staff census report that DPS has some fundamental flaws that need to be addressed," he said.

"It is unacceptable that a workplace like DPS has a recommendation rate or approval rating that is 8 per cent below the Australian Public Service average.

"In what world is it OK that 13 per cent of people reported having experienced bullying or harassment?

"And 8 per cent of people reported that they have observed conduct which they would consider to be corruption."

DPS published its 2025 employee census this month - the first time the notoriously secretive department has participated in five years - in a signal that Ms Hinchcliffe may be taking a more transparent approach than her predecessor.

Almost a third (28 per cent) of participants said they wanted to leave their position immediately or within the next 12 months, with 42 per cent saying they were looking to move to another agency.

The former staff member wrote that the census results were "not an accurate indicator, as many staff do not trust that the survey is confidential and therefore do not participate."

The 2025 DPS staff census had a 65 per cent response rate, with 817 of the department's 1259 employees taking part.

A DPS spokesperson said in a statement that it "takes all instances of bullying, harassment and discrimination seriously."

"The Secretary and leadership team at DPS are strongly committed to fostering a positive, inclusive and supportive workplace culture that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination and where staff feel that they can safely report," the spokesperson said.

Support measures included Harassment Contact Officers, who "are available to all staff who wish to informally seek information about reporting instances of bullying, harassment or unacceptable behaviour."

It was "a priority of the Secretary to improve staff awareness of available support options and reporting avenues available to them [and] creating an environment where our people feel safe and respected at work," with the 2025 census providing "an important benchmark."

Friday's hearing will be the first time the head of the scandal-prone department has faced an estimates grilling since before the May federal election.

Ms Hinchcliffe fronted estimates in February as Acting Secretary, a month before being appointed to the substantive role.

In a report tabled ahead of the hearing, DPS revealed that it had recently updated its conflict of interest policy, setting out "clear, mandatory requirements for all staff to disclose and take reasonable steps to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest that could arise in connection with their work".

The policy applies to all members of the senior executive service and statutory officeholders, who must file declarations annually and update them if their personal circumstances change.

DPS has also overhauled the rules that apply to incentive-to-retire payments after a probe found "multiple procedural failures" with the six-figure payout to former Ms Saunders, which former Secretary Rob Stefanic delegated due to a conflict of interest.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the issue.

Mr Stefanic was sacked in March after the parliament's presiding officers lost confidence in his leadership.

DPS also created a new reasonable adjustments policy in June to "support all employees to participate to their maximum capacity" and provide an "inclusive and safe workplace."

The department has previously been accused of failing to make reasonable adjustments for staff with disabilities, as required by workplace laws.