PM Transcripts

MR. E. C. A. BR W, 1
Statement by the Prime 1inister. the 1t. Hon. RG. Menzies
On 27th September, 1961 the Director-General of Posts
and Telegraphs, in pursuance of Section 56 of the Public Sorvice
Act, charged Ed-rard Charles Alfred Brown, Director of Posts and
Telegraphs in Queensland with the following offences:
That between 28th July and 31st July, 1.961 Mr. Brown
was guilty of improper conduct in using for other than
official purposes a motor car belonging to the Postmaster-
General's Department.
That between 6th August and 8th August, 1961 Mr. Brown
was guilty of improper conduct in that he sought th. e
assistance of Colin Douglas Manley, Chief Investigation
Officer of the Postmaster-General's Department in Queensland
in fabricating reasons to justify the use by him between
28th July and 31st July of the motor car and
That betwieen bOh August and lth September, 1961 he
was guilty of improper conduct in that having been asked for
an explanation of the use by him between 28th July and 31st
July of a motor car belonging to the Postmaster-General's
Department he made false and misleading statements.
On 27th September the Director-General of Posts and
Telegraphs suspended Mr. Brown and notified the Public Service
Board of the charges and suspension.
Mr. Brown in writing admitted the truth of the charges,
and subsequently was given the opportunity of placing before the
Public Service Board matters . hich he considered to be relevant
to the recommendation the Board was required, under the Public
Service Act, to make to the Governor-General. A similar
opportunity was given to the Director-General of Posts and
Telegraphs who had, on llth October, forwarded a written
submission on the matter to the Public Service Board.
Until the time when the charges were laid Mr. Brown
haad a satisfactory record of service with the Commonwealth.
The Public Service Board, having completed elaborate
inquiries into all matters concerning the charges, has found that
Mr. Broain abused the authority vested in him as Director of Posts
and Telegraphs, Queensland, and has betrayed the trust and
confidence which a Permanent Head must place in a senior officer.
The Board noted that these are serious breaches of the
standard of conduct expected of a senior officer and on 26th
October recommended to the Governor-General that he be:
removed from the office of Director of Posts and
Telegraphs, Second Division, Queensland in uhich
position he received a salary of f3,650 per amum
reduced to an office of Engineer, Class 4, salary
scale œ 2,748 œ 2,878 per annum, Third Division,
Engineering Division, Central Office, Postmaster-
Generalts Department, Melbourne
paid salary at the rate of C2,878 per annum ( subject
to the variations in salary prescribed by reulation
106A of the Public Service regulations)
An Order in these terms was made by the Governor-
General in Council today and the decisions will take effect from
today. CANBERRA2nd November, 1961.