CCC report into Jackie Trad exposes relations with Annastacia Palaszczuk

The power dynamic between former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her deputy Jackie Trad has been exposed in a long-awaited CCC report.

• Good, bad and ugly of Trad

The power dynamic between Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad – including heated phone calls and their staff’s work to avoid “World War III” – has been exposed in secret documents released by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The CCC’s report into the conduct of former deputy premier and treasurer Ms Trad, tabled in Queensland Parliament, found she inappropriately interfered with the recruitment of under treasurer Frankie Carroll.

However it also exposed the divide between Ms Trad and Ms Palaszczuk and her director-general Dave Stewart.

In interviews with the CCC, Ms Palaszczuk revealed she received phone calls from Ms Trad about the appointment.

“The first one, she was begging me to appoint him and the second phone call was yelling at me and telling me that I was going to pick up the pen and I was going to sign the document, and I said I’m not,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The CCC then asked Ms Trad: “Did you ever scream down the phone at the Premier and demand that she appoint (Mr Carroll)”, to which she replied, “No, I did not.”

Mr Stewart, who was influenced by Ms Trad to recommend Mr Carroll be appointed as Under Treasurer, also revealed unpleasant dealings with the former deputy premier.

“Because (of) my role as head of (the Department of Premier and Cabinet) she (Ms Trad) often did not like the advice I gave the Premier,” Mr Stewart told the CCC.

“I can’t remember the exact nature of the calls, other than any phone call I had with Jackie Trad was never a pleasant occasion.

Jackie Trad (front) with Annastacia Palaszczuk

“They were quite confrontational, they were aggressive and you know, at the end of the day, what I didn’t want to happen, was what happened to (Jim) Murphy.”

In August 2018, Ms Trad told then under treasurer Jim Murphy her confidence “has deteriorated in our working relationship”, prompting his resignation with a $297,430 severance payment.

Messages exchanged between Mr Stewart and her former chief of staff in September 2018 discuss Ms Trad’s nominations for the panel.

Mr Stewart at 5.36pm: “Can I email (Ms Trad’s former chief of staff) and ask him who his two nominations are for the UT (Under Treasurer) selection panel.

“I don’t want to create WR27.”

When asked by the CCC what WR27 referred to, the Premier’s former chief of staff said it was “possibly an autocorrect” … maybe it was World War 2? World War 3? I don’t know.”

In interviews with the CCC, Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Carroll was Ms Trad’s preferred appointment as under treasurer, but she indicated to Ms Trad there needed to be a recruitment and selection process.

In December 2017, Mr Carroll left the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning after Ms Trad also ceased her related ministerial responsibilities.

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Carroll “probably was not happy that he wasn’t going with Jackie”.

“He came in and saw me and, we may – he had words at me.”

She said it was very disrespectful.

Originally published as CCC report into Jackie Trad exposes relations with Annastacia Palaszczuk