Corruption probe into Jackie Trad school issue began in December
The state’s corruption watchdog began investigating a complaint about Jackie Trad and a school in her electorate, months before the former deputy premier and treasurer says she was aware of the probe. A report is expected in coming weeks.
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THE state’s corruption watchdog began investigating a complaint about Jackie Trad and a school in her South Brisbane electorate in December.
It comes after the former deputy premier and treasurer stood down from her ministerial duties on Saturday, May 9, telling media she became aware of the investigation the day before.
In a statement today, Ms Trad said her solicitors forwarded correspondence to the CCC on February 3 this year requesting the watchdog to advise “whether they had received and were considering a complaint”.
“The CCC responded on 4 February 2020 advising they were not prepared to comment on whether they had received a complaint. I stood aside on 10 May after being formally advised that I was under investigation by the CCC.”
The Crime and Corruption Committee boss Alan MacSporran revealed earlier today the assessment turned into an investigation in December after it was referred in November however the watchdog didn’t go public with that information.
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He said Ms Trad became aware immediately before she stood down on May 9.
Asked whether an investigation ongoing for those five months would have highlighted to the MP that she was under investigation, Mr MacSporran said: “I can’t speak for her but the way we conduct these things deliberately is to not flag what we’re doing necessarily.
“I’m sure she would have suspected given the length of time it was taking that we were doing more than simply assessing it but that’s pure speculation on my part as to what her state of mind was.”
Ms Trad has today been contacted for comment.
Ms Trad initially stood aside then resigned from Cabinet the following day after learning the CCC was investigating claims she interfered with the recruitment of the principal at the Inner City South State Secondary College.
She has previously denied any wrongdoing.
Mr MacSporran said the investigation, which had been complex and large, was completed and a report would be released publicly in coming weeks.
“Just to place it in context the fact that it became an investigation being made public was not our choice, it was the choice of the deputy premier and she made that choice I would say appropriately based on the protocol that would have been put in place as I understand it and the premier that if an MP or a minister particularly was under investigation by the CCC they would stand down, so as soon as we wished to speak with the deputy premier and have her examined at a hearing it was an investigation which she then was required under her obligations I’d imagine to tell the premier and hence take the obvious action according to the protocols,” Mr MacSporran said today.
Mr MacSporran said it was never ideal to “take that much time” for an investigation but “some of these things just take that time because they’re large and complex”.
“We don’t go public and say that because as soon as we say that everyone starts thinking there’s something that someone has to answer for which may well be the case but it’s unfair until the report comes out which is in a couple of weeks,” he said.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the CCC often undertook investigations without notifying people.
“That’s the nature of their work and that’s what they’ve done here,” he said.
“I don’t see anything inappropriate in what Mr MacSporran has outlined to the PCCC.
“Clearly it’s important for the CCC to be able to undertake investigations without notifying the people that they’re investigating.
“I’m sure you can imagine a wide range of circumstances where that’s appropriate.”
Mr Miles said he looked forward to the matter being finalised and that he understood the Government was first advised about the investigation in May.
“I stand by all of our Members,” he said.
“The CCC has followed an appropriate process.
“Jackie stood down to allow that to occur.”