Queensland Building and Construction Commission chair Dick Williams sat on panel that appointed exec to $340k job

The QBCC chair and his deputy sat in on the selection panel which appointed a senior executive who had been paid $340,000 for nine months work as a consultant.

QBCC chair Dick Williams and his deputy Michelle James sat in on the selection panel which appointed a senior executive who had been paid $340,000 for nine months’ work as a consultant.

The role of chief strategy and transformation officer went to Julie Barsha, who had acted as a consultant for the QBCC before being appointed.

In estimates hearings, then-Commissioner Bret Bassett confirmed Mr Williams and Ms James had sat in on the selection process.

He also confirmed that Ms Barsha had been paid $340,000 in consultancy fees by the QBCC for nine months’ work.

In estimates hearings in December last year, the Opposition’s Tim Mander said there was a $339,845 consultancy payment made to a key management personnel officer prior to their appointment to a three-year contract.

QBCC chair Dick Williams. Photo by Chris McCormack.

Mr Bassett said the question related to the appointment of our current chief strategy and transformation officer (Julie Barsha).

“Prior to the appointment of the chief strategy and transformation officer, they did a significant amount of work as a consultant for the QBCC,’’ he said.

“Yes, it says the payments were from 1 July 2019 to the date of 9 April 2020.

Asked about her appointment to the role, Mr Bassett said: “Every person who is appointed to the senior leadership team of the QBCC goes through a rigorous process.”

“I can confirm that that process included a national search,” he said.

“The appointment included members of the QBCC board being on that committee to make sure that it was a merit – based process. In response to the member’s question, the direct answer is, yes, it was a merit – based process.’’