The grey, pin-striped empire strikes back

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Christine Rankin tore the lid off the traditionally grey world of the public servant.

This week, bureaucrats whose behaviour behind closed doors had been laid bare moved to recover their poise.

Those in the packed Employment Court hung on every word as Mark Prebble, head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, described being shocked and offended by an "indecent" outfit which allegedly had a very low-cut neckline and showed a large amount of breast.

But Mrs Rankin had her lawyers turn the tables by claiming during cross-examination that the outfit he was referring to was the one she was wearing that day in court - a bronze-coloured suit with a stiffened V neckline.

Her lawyer, Michael Quigg, asked whether Dr Prebble thought of himself as the "guardian of moral standards."

He did not, but he had been "outraged by having someone sit in front of me displaying as much as she was displaying. I found it offensive."

Dr Prebble gave his version of a meeting on January 28 last year which Mrs Rankin had earlier %described in vivid detail to the court.

%Mrs Rankin said he had described her as a sexual icon, said her earrings, in terms of the Darwin theory and The Naked Ape, were a sexual come-on and the shortness of her skirts an absolute distraction.

Dr Prebble agreed he had warned her to be careful because someone in her position could not afford to be seen as a sex symbol.

He added that Darwin did not write anything about the naked ape and that obviously the discussion he had with Mrs Rankin was "too complex" for her to understand.

"I did say I had a recollection that Desmond Morris [who wrote The Naked Ape] seemed to think that ears and earrings might have some sexual connotation but that wasn't what I was talking about."

Mr Quigg: You said that when she moved, you could distinguish her breast and that made you feel uncomfortable.

Dr Prebble: I am quite certain there was nothing to do with distinguish. I said I could see it.

Mr Quigg also questioned Dr Prebble about his history in terms of working with women, passing him a slip of paper with the name of a former female colleague.

Dr Prebble said the lawyer was trying to raise a "dark and shady allegation." He said the woman had worked for him but he thought her work was not up to standard. She had left with a "modest settlement" and a job in another department.

Dame Margaret Bazley, who hired Mrs Rankin when she began working as a desk clerk at Social Welfare and who has taken over her job temporarily, also gave evidence.

Dame Margaret said she strongly believed that if the relationship between a minister and the chief executive of a department broke down irretrievably, the public servant had no choice but to resign.

The case continues on Monday with testimony from Associate Social Services Minister Ruth Dyson.