Suspended Education boss at centre of Trad saga still being paid
An Education Department executive stood aside for his involvement in the Jackie Trad school saga is still being paid.
QLD News
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The Education Department’s deputy director-general Jeff Hunt is still suspended on pay after being stood aside seven months ago.
Director-General Tony Cook has revealed during today’s Budget Estimates that Mr Hunt has been paid about $99,000 since May when he was stood aside amid a Crime and Corruption Investigation into the appointment of a school principal at Brisbane’s new Inner City South State Secondary College.
It came just days after former deputy premier Jackie Trad resigned from the ministry after learning the watchdog was investigating allegations she’d interfered in the appointment process of a principal.
The CCC, which cleared Ms Trad of corrupt conduct, handed a confidential report to the Public Service Commission for it to consider whether disciplinary action against identified public servants was appropriate.
The watchdog’s report found Ms Trad was made part of the selection panel for the new principal when Mr Hunt created a plan to have her “test” out candidate Tracey Cook, without telling Ms Trad or Ms Cook the meeting’s purpose.
The Education Department refused to say last week when asked by The Courier-Mail whether Mr Hunt was still suspended and if he was stood aside with pay.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Grace Grace has refused to say who the “mystery” MP was after the CCC’s report in July revealed Ms Trad “stated that she met with the potential applicant as a favour to a Member of Parliament who advised her that a principal for whom she had high regard was interested in applying”.
The Opposition grilled Ms Grace over who it was today, but she repeated, “Ask the CCC”.
Mr Cook, who was also asked, said, “I’m not aware of any details in relation to that incident that’s outlined in the CCC report”.
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