Commission rules against top Ipswich nurse who offered job without sign-off authority

A top Ipswich nurse has lost a fight after offering another nurse a job without approval, leaving the recruit out of work when the deal fell through.

Ipswich Hospital Assistant Director of Nursing in the Emergency Department Matthew Quinn failed in his challenge against a penalty imposed by Queensland.

A senior nursing executive at Ipswich Hospital has lost his appeal against a disciplinary penalty, after he offered a management position to an applicant without having the proper authority, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has ruled.

Ipswich Hospital Assistant Director of Nursing in the Emergency Department Matthew Quinn challenged a sanction imposed by Queensland Health which included a formal reprimand and a temporary pay downgrade for six months.

The case centred on events in April 2024, when Mr Quinn chaired a recruitment panel that recommended a candidate for the Nurse Unit Manager position in the Emergency Department at Ipswich Hospital, with final appointment subject to delegated approval.

The initial successful candidate resigned soon after accepting the position.

Mr Quinn then contacted the second-ranked candidate, who is referred to in documents filed with the commission, as Ms P to protect her privacy.

He offered Ms P the position via a phone call, despite not having final delegate approval to do so.

The commission heard that after the phone call, Ms P resigned from her existing role at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and made arrangements to move to Ipswich Hospital.

However, days later, Queensland Health decided to reinstate the original candidate after he expressed a desire to withdraw his resignation, resulting in Ms P no longer having a position.

Queensland Health subsequently found that Mr Quinn’s actions breached the Queensland public servants code of conduct by exceeding his authority and failing to exercise due diligence.

He received a formal reprimand and was temporarily reassigned to a lower classification level for six months, resulting in a corresponding salary cut.

The matter arose after a job was advertised at Ipswich Hospital. Picture: The Courier-Mail

In his appeal, Mr Quinn argued the disciplinary decision was harsh and unfair, saying he had not deliberately misled Ms P and had made clear the offer was subject to final approval.

He claimed his long, unblemished service record should have counted in his favour.

However, Industrial Commissioner Peter O’Neill upheld the penalty, finding the evidence supported Queensland Health’s view that Mr Quinn’s emails and announcements treated the appointment as a “done deal”.

The commission found that Mr Quinn conveyed a sense of “finality” regarding Ms P’s appointment, including statements about “locking in” a start date and informing staff of a confirmed replacement, despite lacking the necessary delegated approval.

Mr Quinn also argued that Ms P’s resignation was her own decision and that any impact on her employment was due to unusual recruitment circumstances outside his control.

But the commission said his actions contributed significantly to her decision to resign, noting she withdrew a permanent conversion application at her former hospital, cancelled her car park, and informed other staff of her departure based on Mr Quinn’s assurances.

The commission also rejected Mr Quinn’s claim that the issue should have been handled through performance management rather than formal discipline, ruling that his conduct was serious enough to warrant disciplinary action.

While the penalty was originally set to last 12 months, it was halved to six months partly due to Mr Quinn’s co-operation, financial impact and expressions of remorse.

The commission’s ruling left Mr Quinn’s reprimand and temporary salary downgrade standing.

He must also disclose the disciplinary action if required in future employment situations within Queensland Health.

Originally published as Commission rules against top Ipswich nurse who offered job without sign-off authority