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Public service commissioner John Lloyd chaired a panel recommending candidates for a role that could require its appointee to decide whether to investigate him for an alleged code of conduct breach. Mr Lloyd, who abruptly announced last week he would resign from his $692,000 position, was the subject of an allegation received by the Prime Minister's department and later sent to the merit protection commissioner in January. The Australian Public Service Commission on Tuesday confirmed Mr Lloyd was on the panel that interviewed applicants for the role that month. Mr Lloyd was yet to learn the acting merit protection commissioner, Mark Davidson, had received a complaint when the panel conducted interviews and recommended appointees, the commission said. Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service Kelly O'Dwyer announced on Friday that Linda Waugh would be the new merit protection commissioner, to commence a five-year term on June 25. Mr Davidson told a Senate estimates committee last month he was yet to make a decision on whether to begin an investigation into Mr Lloyd. He said in a letter to the committee he originally delayed deciding so the allegation could be referred to a permanent merit protection commissioner when appointed. The APSC on Tuesday did not comment on whether the merit protection commissioner had decided on an investigation. Mr Lloyd has denied the timing of his resignation was influenced by the possible investigation, saying he had been considering leaving. His term was due to expire in December 2019. Mr Lloyd's announcement came after mounting pressure over his connection to right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, and revelations three weeks ago he faced a possible investigation into an allegation received by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. His links to the think tank came under growing scrutiny after it was revealed at a Senate estimates hearing in October he sent an email to a member of the IPA with an attachment showing what he described as "generous" provisions in public service enterprise agreements. Mr Lloyd rejected suggestions he gave it special access and research under a barrage of questioning about his connection with the IPA from Labor senators. Pressure mounted on the public service commissioner in May after Fairfax Media revealed the Prime Minister's department withheld emails relating to Mr Lloyd and the IPA following a freedom of information request, saying they could prejudice a possible investigation. After initially refusing to answer repeated questions from Labor at a Senate estimates hearing last month asking whether he was under investigation, Mr Lloyd confirmed he was not. However Mr Davidson, who can start an inquiry, said a day later he was yet to decide on whether he would begin a probe into an allegation the public service commissioner had breached a code of conduct.

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