An independent “fact-finding mission” into a $315,126 retirement payment to a senior parliamentary department official has found “multiple procedural failures” including overpayment, a disregard for specialist advice and “excessive pressure” applied in the payment’s timing.

The report by Sydney barrister Fiona Roughley SC, released Thursday , found there were “conflicts of interest” and “conflicted persons” within the Department of Parliamentary Services involved in the decision-making process.

In Senate estimates hearings in 2024, the former DPS secretary Rob Stefanic said he declared a conflict of interest with Cate Saunders, his former deputy secretary, in August 2022, due to a “close” personal relationship. Rob Stefanic finishes up as head of parliamentary services after scrutiny

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