LNP refers Jackie Trad to corruption watchdog for third time

Queensland’s Opposition has referred Labor’s former deputy premier to the Crime and Corruption Commission for the third time in a year.

Jackie Trad is accused of improperly interfering in the selection of Frankie Carroll as her Under Treasurer last year. Picture: Tara Croser.

Queensland’s Liberal National Party opposition has referred former deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad to the Crime and Corruption Commission for a third time in a year, over alle­gations she interfered in the recruitment of her former Under Treasurer.

Ms Trad was cleared of corruption and criminality the previous two times that the LNP referred her to the CCC, for allegations about an investment property and recruitment of a school principal.

The LNP is now alleging Ms Trad improperly interfered in the selection of Frankie Carroll as her Under Treasurer last year, even though ministers and the government routinely hand-pick their directors-general.

Mr Carroll had previously been a director-general and was chief executive of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander has written to CCC chair Alan MacSporran, asking that the CCC investigate the alle­gation that in 2019, Ms Trad interfered with the independent recruitment process for the role of under treasurer.

Ms Trad said for Mr Mander — who is the opposition’s Treasury spokesman — to be “fixated” on this and “not the economic recovery of the state defies belief but underlies where his priorities lie”.

“The LNP have vacated the field when it comes to helping everyday Queenslanders who are doing it tough at this time,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Mr Carroll would be appointed as Under Treasurer in February last year.

Mr Mander wrote to Mr MacSporran: “On 2 July, 2020, a whistleblower of considerable standing contacted the opposition and advised that: the independent selection panel chaired by Dave Stewart, director-­general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet selected Mr Leon Allen as the preferred candidate of the role of under treasurer”.

“The member for South Brisbane (Ms Trad) intervened in the process and insisted that Mr Frankie Carroll was appointed to the role.

“Mr Frankie Carroll was an applicant to the role but was not the preferred candidate determined by the independent selection panel.”

Mr Mander raised the issue in parliament on Wednesday, and Ms Palaszczuk said if the opposition had any evidence, they should refer it to the CCC.

Mr Mander’s letter said he submitted that if Ms Trad did ­interfere with the selection process, the CCC should consider whether “this amounts to misconduct in relation to public ­office under section 92A of the Criminal Code 1899”.

Ms Trad resigned from her cabinet positions in May, after finding out she was under investigation by the CCC.

She was cleared of corruption and criminality.