Unfairly sacked SES official back to work

SMH – Oct 25, 2014

A whistleblower improperly sacked from the State Emergency Service for exposing potential misconduct in the ranks will return to work on Monday, more than a year after she was ousted. Tara McCarthy, the first female deputy commissioner of the SES in its 60-year history, was vindicated earlier this year when the Independent Commission Against Corruption found her boss Murray Kear had acted corruptly by sacking her in May last year for making allegations against his “mate” Steve Pearce. Ms McCarthy had to wait another five months to return to work because existing whistleblower laws make it difficult to permanently reinstate someone who is sacked for improper reasons. She will return to her former position, albeit on a six-month contract. Mr Pearce, who was also deputy commissioner, will return from leave on full pay on the same day. Public Service Association general secretary Anne Gardiner welcomed the decision.