The NSW Police Commissioner has advertised what will be her sixth spin doctor in just two years after the last person to hold the job was dumped before he even started.
Commissioner Karen Webb could get a fourth executive director of public affairs in just three months, after Liz Deegan was removed from his position on March 13.
Her departure came after Commissioner Webb was heavily criticized for her comments during the investigation into the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who were allegedly killed by police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.
After Ms Deegan – who was in the role for less than a year – left, she was replaced by controversial former Channel Seven journalist Steve Jackson.
But Jackson wasn’t even allowed to sit behind the desk before his job offer was withdrawn following intense publicity surrounding his role in a bizarre saga involving another former Seven producer, Taylor Auerbach and Bruce Lehrmann.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) has advertised what will be her sixth spin doctor in just two years, after the last person to hold the job was dumped before he even started
After Jackson was deemed redundant, Adam Wallace was seconded from the NSW Health Department in an acting role to advise Commissioner Webb on her dealings with the media.
Before she faced criticism over the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, her comments surrounding the alleged Taser death of 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland in May 2023 were also met with disbelief.
The commissioner was criticized at the time for refusing to view bodycam footage of demented Ms Nowland being tasered by senior constable Kristian White at a retirement home in Cooma.
“I don’t see any value in looking at that footage now if I don’t know … what else happened before and after that incident,” she said.
In February, Commissioner Webb — who had just wrapped up a brutal interview with Natalie Barr in which she dismissed concerns about her leadership by quoting Taylor Swift’s “haters gonna hate” line — then reportedly refused to walk out.
Steve Jackson (pictured) wasn’t even allowed to sit behind the desk before his job offer was withdrawn following intense publicity surrounding his role in a bizarre saga involving another former Seven producer, Taylor Auerbach and Bruce Lehrmann.
“If you want any indication that a police chief is under siege, Karen Webb stayed in the Sunrise studio for ten minutes today and refused to leave, saying she wouldn’t be ambushed by our crew,” reporter Robert Ovadia claimed.
In April, there were calls for a review of senior civil servant salaries in NSW after it emerged that the sacking of a string of top media advisers to the country’s largest police force has cost taxpayers more than $700,000.
Commissioner Webb’s decision to part ways with four former chief media consultants in just two years had resulted in severance payments of $687,613, and subsequently Jackson was said to have left with $30,000 despite not having worked a day.
The job posting for the position that some say has become a poisoned chalice reads: “The Executive Director… leads the implementation of public affairs strategies and programs to enhance and protect the reputation of the NSWPF and foster a positive work environment to create.’
The successful candidate will receive a $330,000 package and the option of a car.