Senior public servant Jeff Hunt resigns amid disciplinary process

A senior public servant suspended more than two years ago amid a watchdog probe has resigned.

A disciplinary process remains ongoing after senior public servant Jeff Hunt, who was suspended more than two years ago amid a watchdog probe, resigned.

The Education Department on Thursday confirmed the resignation of Mr Hunt, who was a deputy director-general, was effective from July 11.

It follows a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into allegations former deputy premier ­Jackie Trad interfered in the appointment of a school principal in her then electorate of South Brisbane.

Ms Trad quit her ministerial post in May 2020 after learning of the probe, and Mr Hunt was stood aside in the days following on full pay of over $330,000 a year.

The corruption watchdog ultimately took no further action against Ms Trad.

However it found a public service in the apparent thrall of her, and handed the Public Service Commission (PSC) a separate report for it to determine whether any disciplinary action was necessary.

The Department of Education’s former deputy director-general Jeff Hunt. Picture: Jerad Williams

The PSC last year found Mr Hunt had engaged in misconduct which he appealed in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, arguing that it was “not fair and reasonable”.

According to the QIRC ruling, Mr Hunt argued “illogical or irrational conclusions” were made by the decision-maker and/or investigator and that his “previous unblemished professional reputation with almost a decade in the role of deputy director-general has been damaged by the investigation and the associated unlawfulness”.

But the QIRC in May affirmed the PSC’s finding.

According to the QIRC’s ruling, the PSC had substantiated several allegations, including that Mr Hunt involved himself “inappropriately, including making decisions, in the recruitment process for the principal (band 11) for the Inner City South State Secondary College”.

“It was accepted by the decision-maker that the idea and decision to take Principal A to meet with Ms Trad was the appellant’s,” the ruling read.

“On the appellant’s ­evidence, the meeting with Ms Trad was a ‘test to prove, up or down’, whether the offer of appointment to ­Principal A should proceed. Principal A attended the meeting absent any idea that she was being assessed for her performance.”

The PSC determined that Mr Hunt had inappropriately decided not to proceed with that principal’s appointment and “in making that ­decision, absent authority … went outside the recruitment processes”.

The PSC on Thursday said the disciplinary process was ongoing and that it could not provide any further comment.