Jackie Trad may face Parliament over long-awaited CCC report
Jackie Trad could be hauled before the Queensland Parliament to explain why she “inappropriately interfered” with an independent recruitment panel, despite previously saying she had not.
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Jackie Trad could be hauled before the Queensland Parliament to explain why she “inappropriately interfered” with an independent recruitment panel, despite previously saying she had not.
The fallout of the long-awaited Crime and Corruption Commission reports into the former deputy premier and treasurer, and former public trustee Peter Carne, rocked Parliament on Thursday.
It found Ms Trad aggressively intervened for her long-time friend and colleague Frankie Carroll to become under treasurer, despite a panel initially considering him unqualified.
While the CCC found Ms Trad’s actions did not amount misconduct or corruption, the report appears to contradict statements Ms Trad made in parliament in 2020.
The Courier-Mail understands the government is seeking advice about whether it can take action against Ms Trad, which could include an investigation by the Ethics Committee or forcing her to appear at a parliamentary inquiry.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said: “We now know that there are questions for the former deputy premier to answer.”
On February 19, 2020 Ms Trad was asked in parliament whether she had intervened in the process to appoint Mr Carroll.
“The process to fill the Under Treasurer role was a merit-based process,” she responded.
“It was conducted by an independent panel, of which I was not a member.”
The CCC noted it had no jurisdiction over statements made in the Legislative Assembly, but noted Parliament may wish to consider and decide for itself whether it is appropriate to take any action.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles said there was a process for dealing with claims of misleading Parliament.
It was also revealed Ms Trad asked the new state government to provide almost $5000 more to cover the cost of her failed legal fight to keep the CCC report secret.
Ms Frecklington said Labor’s Shannon Fentiman, as attorney-general, approved legal indemnity funding for Ms Trad, which has now cost taxpayers $380,000, while Mr Carne’s matter had cost nearly $1m.
“What’s worse, the Trad tap is going to be turned off because she came to me requesting me, as attorney-general, to pay more towards her, nearly $5000,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Guess what, it’s turned off. I’m not going to pay for Jackie Trad’s legal fees.”
Ms Frecklington said Ms Fentiman should pay back Queenslanders for using almost $400,000 of their cash for her “best friend”.
“Not under my watch. I will not pay your buddy’s legal fees, and nor should Queenslanders,” she said.
Grilled on her decision to grant her friend and political ally Ms Trad legal indemnity, Ms Fentiman said she followed the advice provided by the Crown Solicitor.
“Indemnity guidelines are very clear that it is the crown solicitor that provides advice about whether or not a matter falls within those guidelines,” she said.
“I also had requests for indemnity for people who were not on my same side of politics and if I wanted to play politics I well and truly could have but that’s not the role.”
Ms Fentiman denied she blindly followed the Crown solicitor’s advice without considering whether it was appropriate to be granted to her friend Ms Trad to launch legal proceedings.
“I didn’t palm anything, I read their advice,” she said.
“My personal view should be irrelevant when considering an application for ministerial indemnity.”
She said there were no conversations with Ms Trad about the legal indemnity.
Ms Fentiman and Mr Miles also said they were not privy to a recommendation calling on Annastacia Palaszczuk to take disciplinary action against her top bureaucrat Dave Stewart, who the CCC found changed the suitability of Mr Carroll as under treasurer from “not appointable” to “appointable” after Ms Trad’s lobbying.
Mr Stewart was appointed agent-general in London, but due to privacy issues Mr Miles could not detail what disciplinary action was taken.
The independence of the state government’s appointment of Paul Williams as under treasurer has also been put under the microscope, with Mr Miles arguing a “very clear double standard”.
He has questioned whether the appointment was independent and merit based and asked the CCC to investigate.
Mr Williams was the chief financial officer of the People First Bank, formerly known as Heritage Bank, where Treasurer David Janetzki also held senior positions prior to joining politics in 2016.
The government on Tuesday faced a barrage of questions over the hiring process of Mr Williams, including whether the appointment was direct or merit-based.
Premier David Crisafulli said the hiring process had been independently led by his director-general Damien Walker.
“He (Mr Williams) went through an independent process done by the director-general of Premier and Cabinet,” he said.
“There was an open process.”
Asked whether he was in communication with Mr Williams prior to the recruitment process via text messages, phone calls or other means, Mr Janetzki said yes.
Mr Miles called on the government to release an integrity management plan outlining how Mr Janetzki would navigate his “conflict of interest” having known Mr Williams prior to his appointment.
“(Premier Crisafulli) couldn’t outline where the other treasurer’s position was advertised, who applied, who decided the process and based on what advice, who made up the selection panel,” he said.
“They should release the conflict-of-interest management.”
A spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet said Mr Williams was selected through a targeted approach by Queensland Treasury Corporation, which identified “an exemplary, high-calibre individual”.
Mr Williams was recommended to the Premier for the job following an interview with Department of the Premier and Cabinet Director-General Damien Walker and Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie.
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