The Labor Party in Boothby has been caught out abusing its position by advertising a political campaign event with two public servants as guest speakers.
The use of public servants to support any political campaign or political candidate is an abuse of power.
The Labor Party’s Seniors Health and Information Forum advertised guest speakers as an information officer from the Seniors Information Service and a Centrelink Financial Services Officer.
The Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct as well as the Public Service Act make it clear that public servants should never be used to support political campaigns.
It is completely inappropriate for this forum to proceed with two public servants as guest speakers.
The Labor Party needs to explain why it thought it was acceptable for two public servants to address a Labor Party campaign event. These events have been scheduled in other electorates and today I am calling on Michael Brown, ALP Secretary to cancel the events.
It is an important principle that the Australian Public Service remains apolitical.