Queensland elite schools scandal: New agencies investigate PMSA

THE national corporate watchdog, the Australian Taxation Office and Queensland’s Attorney-General have been enlisted to investigate a spate of complaints in the elite schools scandal.

THE national corporate watchdog, the Australian Taxation Office and Queensland’s Attorney-General are the latest agencies enlisted to investigate a spate of complaints in a top-level investigation into the elite schools scandal.

The Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association is under scrutiny over financial irregularities, poor governance, undeclared personal gains, alleged collusion and the cover-up of a high-profile data security breach.

Now, eminent retired judge Richard Chesterman, QC, has been engaged to mediate with school communities over calls for the PMSA Council to be disbanded and for the almost 100-year-old church-appointed body to be terminated.

retired judge Richard Chesterman, QC, has been engaged to mediate with school communities over calls for the PMSA Council to be disbanded. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the ATO, and A-G’s Office join the Crime and Mis­conduct Commission, Aust­ral­ian Competition and Con­sumer Commission, Non-State Schools Accreditation Board, and Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission in a widening inquiry.

The PMSA has hired a ­cohort of legal experts, financial advisers, spin doctors and IT specialists to respond to the deepening probe, which has engulfed four of the state’s most prestigious private schools.

More than 2000 parents and alumni have signed a petition in support of a motion of no confidence in the PMSA and its councillors for its lack of transparency and culture, which led to a string of high-profile resignations.

The PMSA is the governing body of Somerville House, Brisbane Boys’ College, Clayfield College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

The Courier-Mail understands the complaints filed include a range of allegations against the PMSA. The Crime and Misconduct Commission has referred the matter of unauthorised down­loading of government data by PMSA executive manager Rick Hiley to the A-G’s Office and his previous employer TAFE Queensland.

The Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) owns Somerville House, Brisbane Boys College, Clayfield College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Lewd texts show Mr Hiley, who admitted downloading more than 10,000 files from three previous employers, and ex-PMSA chairman Rob McCall, a police inspector, met for “secret men’s business” to exchange sensitive material in a nude spa at a Korean bathhouse.

It has been claimed a high-profile legal figure, whose identity is being closely protected, may have been a third party at the covert bathhouse rendezvous to do what Mr McCall labelled an “Eddie the Eagle”.

The ACNC, in a statement, said it took all concerns seriously and “where there are serious allegations of misconduct and mismanagement we will investigate”.

An ASIC spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately, we ­cannot comment on any ­investigations we may have under way, or have been asked to consider.”