Qld parliament blog: Facebook post a 'corruption risk'

The opposition has lashed out at the Health Minister, saying a Facebook post calling for Queensland Health worker applicants was a "corruption risk". 

A state government MP’s controversial request asking constituents to send their job applications for work at a new satellite hospital through her electorate email was “probably not appropriate” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded.

The Opposition seized on the post by Pumicestone MP Ali King as a “corruption risk”, linking the issue to the wider conversation around the recent muzzling of the Crime and Corruption Commission by a decision of the High Court.

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In the Facebook post Ms King noted jobs at the Bribie Satellite Hospital were likely to be advertised early in 2024.

“You can subscribe to be notified when they are listed, or you can also email your CV to my office and Metro North are letting me email them through to be kept on file,” she stated in the post.

“But frankly if you’re doing that I would also apply through SmartJobs.”

Ms King rose for a “matter of privilege suddenly arising” during Question Time and said she recognised she made “an error of judgement in encouraging the constituent” to apply for the Queensland Health role through her electorate office.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was “probably not appropriate” for a Labor MP to suggest job applications for to work for Queensland Health be directed through her electorate office.

But Ali King’s “intention was clearly” to provide advice to people that there would be positions becoming available at “the local satellite Hospital in her local community”.

It comes as pressure builds on the state government to outline a way forward following a landmark High Court ruling against the CCC.

In a major precedent-setting decision the High Court of Australia in September ruled the contents of a Crime and Corruption Commission report into former public trustee Peter Carne detailing allegations of misconduct should not be published.

CCC chair Bruce Barbour warned the watchdog had throughout its 25 year history relied on the understanding it had the power to make vital reports public, but the High Court ruling meant they had “no such power”.

The CCC has been seeking “urgent legislative amendments” to ensure it can continue to do its job.

Ms Palaszczuk on Wednesday reiterated the state government was seeking legal advice and would consider the advice before moving forward.