Annastacia Palaszczuk won’t rule out standing aside Jackie Trad
Palaszczuk won’t rule out standing Jackie Trad aside if her investment property is probed.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has not ruled out standing aside her deputy Jackie Trad from Cabinet if the state’s corruption watchdog launches an investigation into her investment property.
The Crime and Corruption Commission is considering two referrals about Ms Trad’s inner-city investment property, which she failed to publicly declare and which stands to increase in value due to her signature infrastructure project, the Cross River Rail.
CCC chair Alan MacSporran will field questions about the matter at Queensland budget estimates tomorrow.
Ms Palaszczuk stood aside minister Mark Bailey from Cabinet when the CCC launched an investigation into his use of a private email account, mangocube6@yahoo.co.uk, for ministerial business. Mr Bailey was eventually cleared of corruption and returned to Cabinet, but was criticised by the watchdog for his handling of the account.
Asked today whether she would do the same to Ms Trad, if the CCC decided to formally investigate the investment property, Ms Palaszczuk would not rule it out.
“It’s not at that stage at the moment, so let’s just wait and see,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I don’t even know if it’s under assessment yet. It’s been forwarded. I’ll wait to see (what happens).”
Ms Trad has apologised for not declaring the house, but she has denied any wrongdoing and says there’s no conflict of interest. But she has promised to sell the house — a three-bedroom home in Woolloongabba, bought by her husband through their family trust — for no profit.
The Deputy Premier has stood aside from ministerial responsibility for the Cross River Rail, while the matter is being considered.
Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Bailey — now the Transport Minister — would take over from Ms Trad.
“I just have to check when the delegation gets done, but it will be transferring to Minister Bailey,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
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