Exclusive Stefanic's tenure as boss of Department of Parliamentary Services 'concluded'

“Government is a trust and the officers of the government are trustees, and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”
—Henry Clay

Exclusive - Stefanic's tenure as boss of Department of Parliamentary Services 'concluded'

By Dana Daniel

Updated December 18 2024 

Rob Stefanic has finished up as secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services.

Ten weeks after being informed that Mr Stefanic was taking an unexplained period of leave, DPS staff received an email on Wednesday morning stating that his "appointment as secretary of DPS has concluded".

Former DPS secretary Rob Stefanic. Picture by Keegan Carroll

Mr Stefanic was four years into his second five-year term as DPS secretary and no explanation has been given for his early departure. 

"We would like to thank Rob for his nine years of service to the Parliament of Australia as the secretary of DPS and acknowledge the work that he has done in that role to continue to improve the services offered by the DPS," Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick and Senate President Sue Lines wrote in the email, seen by The Canberra Times.

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These achievements included "the transformation of the ICT offering, bringing the catering operation into DPS, the delivery of the new Parliament Shop and the stewardship of the department through COVID-19," the email said. 

Jaala Hinchcliffe would continue to act as Secretary "while we run a merit-based process" to make a substantive appointment.

"This process will commence in the new year, and we have asked the Parliamentary Services Commissioner to conduct this process on our behalf."

The email continued: "As we move towards Christmas, we would like to thank each of you for the work you have undertaken to support the Parliament this year. 

"We can see your dedication and commitment to service each time we walk around the building. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year."

Mr Stefanic and his department did not provide any details on the reason for his leave.

It followed intense scrutiny of Mr Stefanic's relationship with former deputy secretary Cate Saunders at Senate estimates in May 2024.

Ms Hinchcliffe confirmed last month that Mr Stefanic, on a salary of $490,370, was being paid while on leave.

A DPS spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday: "We can confirm that Mr Rob Stefanic's appointment as secretary of DPS has concluded. 

"A merit-based process to appoint a new secretary will commence in the new year. The Parliamentary Services Commissioner has been asked to conduct this process."

Comment has been sought from Mr Stefanic.

  DPS confirms secretary Rob Stefanic will not be back

Parliamentary Services secretary Rob Stefanic departs following an email informing staff he won’t return from leave.

Dan Holmes 18 December, 2024

Rob Stefanic. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Parliamentary Services secretary Rob Stefanic‘s reign is over after nine years, with the department confirming he will not return from leave.

Responding to questions from The Mandarin about the nature of his resignation, a DPS spokesperson said his appointment as secretary had “concluded”.

“We can confirm that Mr Rob Stefanic’s appointment as secretary of DPS has concluded,” the spokesperson said.

“Jaala Hinchcliffe will continue to act as secretary of DPS while a merit-based process to appoint a new Secretary commences in the new year.

“The Parliamentary Services commissioner has been asked to conduct this process.”

Stefanic took indefinite leave in October, days after The Guardian reported DPS was raided by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Hinchcliffe confirmed this at estimates in November.

Stefanic was grilled in May estimates about his relationship with his former deputy secretary Cate Saunders.

Furious about the intrusion into his personal life, he called reports of the relationship “malicious and gossip-labelled information”.

Hinchcliffe confirmed in the same estimates hearing there was an active workplace investigation into the arrangements that saw her get an incentive to retire payment.

In a morning staff email confirming the departure, Senate President Sue Lines and House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick thanked Stefanic for his service.

“We would like to thank Rob for his nine years of service to the Parliament of Australia as the secretary of DPS.

“[We] acknowledge the work that he has done in that role to continue to improve the services offered by the DPS including through the transformation of the ICT offering, bringing the catering operation into DPS, the delivery of the new Parliament Shop and the stewardship of the department through COVID-19.”

About the author

Dan Holmes

Journalist

Dan Holmes is a journalist with The Mandarin. Dan joined the Mandarin in 2024, after working with the Daily Advertiser in Wagga. Previous publications include Crikey, The Canberra Times and The Guardian. He was a awarded a Master of Media Practice by Sydney University in 2022.