We turn now to the other topic which consumed a sizable portion of today's Senate Debate.
That's the proposed appointment of Dorothy Bradley as the Acting Auditor-General. She exited the post in December last year after reaching retirement age, and the government claims that since then, it has had significant difficulty finding a suitable replacement.
So, that's why Bradley is being considered for a 2-year appointment, but she continues to be a controversial public figure.
She is most well-known for heading the audit in the Immigration Department between 2011 and 2013, where countless acts of corruption were unearthed.
The US State Department celebrated her as an anti-corruption hero. Still, during the last few years of her tenure as Auditor General, staff members persistently accused her of victimization and employing a malicious management style. The inter-office tensions reached a point where the Public Service Union wrote to the Prime Minister and the then Governor-General to voice their concerns. Bradley dismissed those complaints as haters within the public service attempting to malign her character and undermine her authority.
Here's the Senate discussion about her proposed return to the office on a 2-year contract:
Senator Eamon Courtenay - Leader of Government Business
"And, WHEREAS, the Office of the Auditor General has been vacant since the 7th of December 2021, now therefore be resolved by this Honorable Senate recommends Mrs. Dorothy Bradley be appointed to act as Auditor General for a period of two years, with effect from the 1st of September 2022."
Senator Beverly Williams - UDP Representative
"Madam President, we cannot fail the staff of the audit department. It cannot be that everybody is wrong, and one person is right. I know we've spoken a lot about succession planning, and the fact that we cannot find a replacement. But what about the staff, their welfare, Their mental health? They are afraid. So. Madam President, I say. Wheel, and come again."
Senator Collet Montejo - PUP Representative
"The United States Department of State awarded her the anti-corruption - or made her an anti-corruption champion. It was under her leadership, Madam President, that many corrupt practices were unveiled. She did her job without fear or favor."
Senator Alvin Benguche - Church Representative
"Yes, we must be concerned about succession planning, and I think that is extremely important. It cannot be that we have to go back to a person to ask them to take up a task after his or her tenure has been completed. And yes, I would be concerned that as we go forward, that succession planning will have to kick in. But as I stand here this morning, Madam President, and as I stand in the Senate, I am prepared to support the appointment."
Senator Erica Jang - PUP Representative
"And I also applaud our Prime Minister and this government. For asking her to continue for two years. She's not going to be there forever, just for two years until we can find someone who is substantive enough to replace her. And also, I believe that this government does not fear an Auditor-General who is fearless. This shows that this government has nothing to hide."
Senator Elena Smith - Labour Representative
"As Senator Benguche said earlier, we too have received calls as it relates to this matter. We have persons who are concerned about the professionalism, in their explanation, of this person. They are also concerned with the way employees are being treated, and a number of issues that have come up during the tenure of this Auditor General, when she was Auditor General. The NTUCB feels that if it is that we are putting this same person to head a department that has not been properly functioning, then it means that the department will continue to not properly function."
Senator Janelle Chanona - NGO Representative
"Clearly, there is a significant disconnect currently, between the people that are working there and even this proposed nominee. And I for one, would like to have some kind of formal something happen, review, scrutiny, [or] investigation to make sure one way or another either an apology is made to Mrs. Bradley, or there is some type of confirmation to say, you know what, this is not in place. But I am totally uncomfortable with the chasm that's been created between two sides on this. We cannot move forward in that light, and it does not make sense for us to proceed with something and then just say, well, you know what? We saw the writing on the wall before and we ignored it."
Senator Kevin Herrera - Business Representative
"I have a serious problem when our audits are backed up to 2013/2014. That's like seven years of audits backed up. But I'm talking about the substantive audits for the government. This has not just happened with respect to the delayed audits. This has been happening for decades. And it's not getting better. Now, I am fully aware and I don't want to be unfair to Mrs. Bradley at all. She doesn't have all the support she needs to bring all those audits up to where we are. And decisions also have to be made in terms of how those are carried out. So it's not only the Auditor General we're talking about with respect to bringing those audits up to date. But there's alsohas to be a relook at that department in terms of bringing in additional resources. But we have to hold the Auditor General to account in terms of bringing them up to date. And if that is not possible, perhaps she should ask for an audience with members of the National Assembly, with JPAC, whoever those are. But you cannot take that on your own and just leave it there. I mean, it's required that audits are completed on a yearly basis."
At the end of the debate, Senator Elena Smith asked for a division of votes on the appointment of Dorothy Bradley as Acting Auditor General. 9 Senators voted in favor, and so the motion passed in the Senate.
