‘Absolute corruption’: Crisafulli slams Labor amid integrity questions

Allegations of “corruption,” “cover-up” and “bullying” have been levelled on the floor of parliament, as the major parties traded barbs over the appointment process for senior bureaucrats in Queensland.

The furore erupted less than 24-hours after the release of a report that found former Labor deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad had bullied the state’s top bureaucrat to have a confidante appointed as under treasurer.

The Crime and Corruption Commission report found Trad aggressively agitated behind the scenes to install a candidate initially deemed “not appointable” by the selection panel.

Premier David Crisafulli claimed Labor resorted to “corruption” and “cover up” over former deputy premier Jackie Trad’s appointment of an under treasurer.Credit: Jamila Filippone

The LNP government, led by Premier David Crisafulli, used the report to criticise Labor’s integrity during its long period in power.

But Labor, now in opposition, used the report to question Crisafulli about his government’s recent appointment of under treasurer Paul Williams.

Williams was identified as a candidate during the independent recruitment process for the separate role of Queensland Treasury Corporation chief executive.

In parliament, Labor sought to highlight how Williams and Treasurer David Janetzki had previously worked together at the Heritage Bank in Toowoomba, asking whether there was a conflict.

Crisafulli shrugged off questions about the number of candidates interviewed for the role, instead questioning why Labor would ask about appointment process the morning after the release of a damning CCC report.

“It is riddled with a culture of absolute corruption, of cover-ups, of intimidation and bullying,” he said of the report.

“Now we have seen this report in the cold hard light of day, how can anyone opposite justify it being hidden from Queenslanders?”

Former Queensland deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad.Credit: Fairfax Media

The LNP again criticised the former Labor government for covering Trad’s legal bill of almost $400,000, as she fought to keep the report secret, suggesting she pay the money back.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington told parliament she had recently rejected Trad’s request for the government to cover another $5000 in expenses.

“Guess what: the Trad tap is turned off,” Frecklington said.

“I am not going to pay for Jackie Trad’s legal fees. Queenslanders should not have to pay for Jackie Trad’s legal fees.”

Opposition Leader Steven Miles sought to keep the focus on Williams, with questions also raised by former Labor ministers Shannon Fentiman, Leeanne Enoch, Grace Grace and Meaghan Scanlon, amid interjections from all sides of the house.

Janetzki did not say in parliament when the under treasurer role was advertised nor how many applications were received. His office had yet to respond to questions about the process on Thursday night.

But Crisafulli defended the appointment, telling parliament Williams was selected in an “independent process” led by his director-general, Damien Walker.

“[The opposition is] trying to paint the picture that it is ‘because of a connection’ or ‘because of a relationship’. The under treasurer has had 30 years in banking and is Cambridge educated.

“He is somebody who is above any form of reproach, someone who is not in any way political,” Crisafulli said.

Outside parliament, Miles said the LNP government had seemingly disregarded the advice of the CCC about such appointments, and Crisafulli had refused to offer parliament any clarity around the process.

Fentiman, who as attorney-general followed crown law advice to cover Trad’s expenses under the guidelines around ministerial indemnity, called on the LNP to release that advice and explain its decision to take a different approach.

The furore erupted as the government introduced legislation to restore the CCC’s reporting powers, which were blunted by Trad and former public guardian Peter Carne taking legal action.

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