Principal reminded of ‘impartiality’ after promoting Labor school pledge

A Brisbane school principal married to a former Labor minister used her government-issued email to promote an ‘exciting’ election commitment by Premier Steven Miles.

Phil and Megan Reeves

A Brisbane school principal married to a former Labor minister used her government-issued email to promote an “exciting” election commitment by Premier Steven Miles.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Junction Park State School principal Megan Reeves sent an all-staff email celebrating investment the school would receive if Labor was re-elected for a fourth term.

The email prompted the Department of Education to remind workers of “the importance of being apolitical and impartial”.

It is not uncommon for school principals to appear alongside politicians to celebrate planned or upgraded facilities as a result of government policy, but the promotion of an election commitment is unusual.

“I am thrilled to share some exciting news,” Ms Reeves wrote in the email last Thursday.

“The Minister for Education Di Farmer, alongside (local Member for Miller) Mark Bailey, has announced that if re-elected, Junction Park State School is set to receive a state-of-the-art Prep precinct including multipurpose rooms and a security fence.

“This significant investment will provide our students and staff with enhanced facilities, further enriching the learning environment for our school community.”

Phil and Megan Reeves

Ms Reeves’s email promoting a Labor election commitment appeared to raise concern in the department about the independence of the public sector, with education staff warned against promoting political material at work.

Ms Reeves is married to Philip Reeves, minister for child safety and sport in Anna Bligh’s Labor government between 2009-12.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the internal email was not sent to parents or the wider school community.

Junction Park State School

“The department is aware that an email was sent to Junction Park State School staff outlining an announcement from the local member of parliament,” she said.

“The department is reminding all school leaders of the importance of being apolitical and impartial in their communications, as well as reminding them of caretaker period provisions which start on October 1, 2024.”

The independence and impartiality of the public service was a key tenet of Peter Coaldrake’s 2022 integrity review.

While focusing on the relationship between the bureaucrats and ministerial advisers, Prof Coaldrake noted there was an atmosphere of fear within the public sector driven by a desire to please the government.

“That fear has been of the unwanted impacts and loss of employment status for unwelcome advice,” he said.

“It has been contributed to by pressure from ministerial advisers that minimise problems, and discouragement from providing written advice about difficult topics.”