Almost $700,000 in taxpayer funds has been paid out between three dumped New South Wales police media executives over the past two years, and commissioner Karen Webb sacked a fourth controversial pick mid-appointment last month.
The $687,000 was shared between three public servants who worked as media and public affairs advisers to the commissioner since her appointment in February 2022.
The highly-paid roles includes advising the commissioner on her public appearances and the force’s public engagement strategies.
Among those paid out was Grant Williams, who was made redundant in his role as executive director of NSW police’s public affairs branch soon after Webb became commissioner in early 2022. Williams had been close to Webb’s predecessor, Mick Fuller, whom he had served as executive media adviser and executive director of public affairs.
Former television producer Alexandra Hodgkinson also received a payout, after serving as executive media adviser to Webb from February to December 2022.
The executive director of public affairs position was filled by former News Corp editor Liz Deegan in April 2023.
Deegan was dismissed earlier this year following criticism of the media strategy in the aftermath of the alleged murders of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The Guardian does not know how much of the $687,000 went to each of the three senior figures.
The termination payouts were made in line with the Police Act. It states that senior police executives are to be paid out 38 weeks or for the training period on the contract – whichever is lesser. If employment is terminated because of unsatisfactory performance, they must be paid out 13 weeks.
Deegan was set to be replaced by the former Network Seven producer Steve Jackson before Webb backflipped when questions about the appointment were raised when images of Jackson began circulating in the media industry in Sydney.
Jackson produced Seven’s Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann. Seven paid more than $100,000 in rent for the former Liberal staffer in return for the exclusive interview which was last week discussed at length as part of Lehrmann’s defamation case.
NSW police said at the time it had “ceased the temporary appointment for the role” because it needed to be fulfilled “free from external distractions”.
It is understood Jackson may be in line for a further payout from NSW police after his appointment was terminated.
The Police Act outlines that executives terminated during or at the end of probation should be paid out four weeks.
Last week the federal court heard evidence in the Lehrmann defamation case that Taylor Auerbach, a former Spotlight producer and colleague of Jackson, had been “in part” backgrounding journalists about his time at Seven and that he “hated” Jackson.
The $687,613.40 figure was released in answers to questions from the NSW MP Rod Roberts through the parliamentary estimates process.
A NSW police spokesperson said: “Termination payments are set by legislation. No further comment will be provided.”
