Gleeso Confidential: Emails raise questions on Mick’s workings with QBCC
Newly released documents raise fresh doubts about Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni and the QBCC, writes Peter Gleeson.
Peter Gleeson
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Newly released documents relating to the private email account of the QBCC board chair Dick Williamsraise fresh doubts about Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni’s assertion that he does not interfere in operational matters involving the state’s building industry watchdog.
The material – released through an RTI application by LNP MP Michael Hart – reveals the QBCC awarded a lucrative contract to a consultancy firm linked to Mr de Brenni’s former director-general because of her “knowledge and understanding of the QBCC”.
The 95-page redacted response follows a request by Mr Hart for emails between the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and the private account of board chair Dick Williams, between December 2019 and March 2022.
The documents show that in April 2021, Mr Williams – a former ALP state president appointed by Mr de Brenni in 2016 – was sent an email by then QBCC commissioner Brett Bassett “re Potential Engagement of Nous Group”.
The email reveals a teams’ meeting was being arranged with Nous staff, including the company’s principal Liza Carroll, who until a few months earlier had been the director-general of Mr de Brenni’s department.
In his email to Mr Williams, Mr Bassett said: “Given Liza’s understanding and knowledge of the QBCC we would request she does the field work with a team from Nous”.. and “QBCC would like the engagement to start ASAP”.
The Courier-Mail understands Nous was ultimately engaged to undertake a $286,000 review into the complaint handling and decision-making of the QBCC’s dispute resolution services. It was one of several contracts totalling almost $420,000 awarded by Nous Group by the QBCC between June 2021 and January 2022.
Nous and Ms Carroll have refused to comment on the company’s involvement with the QBCC.
Ms Carroll, who joined Nous Group as a principal in September, 2020, was the former boss of Richard Cassidy, who was appointed interim QBCC commissioner when Mr Bassett left early on September 3, 2021.
Mr Cassidy was then replaced by Anissa Levy as permanent chief executive on February 14, 2022.
The RTI response to Mr Hart reveals details of another contract – worth $36,000 – awarded to Nous Group, which related to the QBCC’s failure to issue a penalty infringement notice (PIN).
A report compiled by Nous – and included in the RTI – found the “individual error was made possible by systemic organisational issues at QBCC”. But it also reveals: “It is Nous’ understanding that the dispute with the certifier was initiated following a recommendation to … redacted ... from the minister.”
Mr Hart seized on the documents as “yet more evidence” of Mr de Brenni’s “cosy relationship” with the supposedly independent building industry watchdog.
“This is the same minister who has repeatedly told parliament – as recently as a few weeks ago during estimates hearings – that neither he nor his office get involved in the day-to-day running of the QBCC,” he said. “Mr de Brenni should reveal the details of his involvement in the matter which resulted in taxpayers forking out thousands of dollars for the Nous investigation,” he said. “And these emails raise questions about what procurement processes are being put in place by the QBCC around lucrative contracts.”
We’re still waiting
A former Queensland Health lawyer-turned-whistleblower has questioned the “incredibly long” investigation into Queensland Health’s acting director-general Shaun Drummond.
Alex Stewart, whose complaints helped spark the 2018 investigation, raised concerns Mr Drummond – who was appointed to the acting D-G role in March – could be put into the top job permanently by the Palaszczuk government before any finding was publicly released. Mr Drummond has denied any wrongdoing.
“I’m sure Queenslanders deserve to know the outcome of this investigation before the government announces the new D-G, who reports directly to the minister and is the highest-ranking bureaucrat in the department,” Mr Stewart said.
The Courier-Mail understands Metro North engaged an outside law firm to conduct the probe.
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