Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose defamation case

Explosive allegations leading to the suspension of a Gold Coast school principal suing a group of parents for more than $1 million were originally substantiated, a court has been told.

EXPLOSIVE allegations leading to the suspension of a Gold Coast school principal suing a group of parents for more than $1 million were originally substantiated, a court has been told.

Tamborine Mountain state high principal Tracey Brose is suing a group of disgruntled parents including Miguel Baluskas, Donna Baluskas and Laura Lawson over a series of allegedly defamatory comments posted on social media after she was suspended in early 2016.

She was reinstated a few months later.

Exactly why she was suspended has never been revealed, but during the third week of the defamation trial in Southport District Court, it was revealed Mrs Brose received a letter dated March 8, 2016 outlining that ‘serious allegations’ against her had been substantiated by

Education Queensland.

In the following days, a number of derogatory comments were posted about Mrs Brose on social media, including that she was ‘evil’ and ‘a bully’.

Mrs Brose has told the trial she was devastated to learn of the social media comments, but giving evidence under cross examination by Mr Baluskas, she said she was not troubled by the correspondence from the education department about the allegations that led to her suspension.

Tamborine Mountain State High Principal Tracey Brose. Picture: Adam Head

“Surely that would have added to your distress?” asked Mr Baluskas.

Mrs Brose disagreed and said she was ‘confident’ after learning the news.

“It outlined some issues,” she said.

“There were flaws in it (the suspension) and I had evidence I was yet to provide.”

Mr Baluskas accused Mrs Brose of being ‘untruthful’.

“She never provides truth, just allegations,” he said.

“Absolutely not,” she replied.

A school employee told the court she had been instructed to say Mrs Brose was ‘on leave’ during her suspension.

The trial continues.

PIG SNORTING NOISE CLAIM ‘INVENTED’, COURT HEARS

12.45pm: A DEFENDANT in an explosive defamation trial involving Queensland high school principal Tracey Brose has accused her of inventing allegations he made pig snorting noises at her in a courthouse foyer.

Appearing in the witness stand at Southport District Court on Monday, the Tamborine Mountain State High School principal was grilled by Miguel Baluskas, one of a group of school parents she is suing for more than $1 million over a series of allegedly defamatory social media posts after she was suspended from her job in 2016.

Donna Baluskas involved in a legal dispute with Mt Tamborine State School Principal Tracey Brose. Picture: Jason O'Brien

She was reinstated after a few months.

In earlier evidence, Mrs Brose told the court Mr Baluskas made pig-snorting noises at her as they passed in the courthouse foyer.

“I put it to you that you are lying about the pig-snorting noises in the foyer,” said Mr Baluskas.

“I disagree,” Mrs Brose replied.

“There is a witness.”

However, Mr Baluskas said there was no evidence because ‘no such thing ever happened.’

The hearing continues

The bitter defamation trial is set to drag on after renewed attempts at mediation collapsed on Friday.

Some of the parents have since reached out-of-court settlements and after two weeks of hearings, Judge Catherine Muir on Friday urged the remaining parties to reconsider their positions because her findings would reflect poorly on all sides.

Following Friday’s court sitting, discussions took place in a conference room, however the trial resumed as scheduled on Monday morning in Southport District Court.

Donna Baluskas, Miguel Baluskas and Laura Lawson are all self-represented.

Originally published as Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose defamation case