Jackie Trad to sell controversial property

Queensland Deputy Premier to sell investment after failing to declare house in line for benefit.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will sell for no profit an investment property that could rise in value thanks to her signature infrastructure project.

After seeking advice from the state’s Integrity Commissioner on the matter, a spokeswoman for Ms Trad said she would sell the three-bedroom home in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba.

“The Deputy Premier received advice from the Integrity Commissioner today,” the spokeswoman said.

“She is seeking further advice.”

“Regardless, and in order to remove any doubt, the Deputy Premier will sell the property at the same price it was purchased for.”

“The advice will be made available in full when it’s received.”

Earlier, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had accepted Ms Trad’s apology over the issue.

Ms Trad was forced to publicly apologise yesterday after The Courier-Mail revealed her family investment company had bought the three-bedroom Woolloongabba home in March, but had not formally declared it on her pecuniary interest register until this week, after receiving inquiries from the newspaper.

Liberal National Party Opposit­ion Leader Deb Frecklington said Ms Trad had a conflict that the Premier needed to manage.

The house is near the proposed new Boggo Road station for the $5.4bn Cross River Rail project, which Ms Trad is spearheading. Homes near the project’s new stations are likely to spike in value.

Ms Palaszczuk said Ms Trad had spoken with the state’s Integrity Commissioner, who would rule on the matter today.

“I’ve spoken with the Deputy Premier and she’s spoken with the Integrity Commissioner and that advice is coming back this morning, today, and I’ve asked to see that advice,” she said.

“There is an obligation on every member of parliament to make sure they comply with requirements of reporting to the parliament … she has apologised that that property was not declared, and I have taken her apology.”

The Premier would not say whether she thought Ms Trad had a conflict of interest in buying the property.

“I’d like to see that (Integrity Commissioner) advice before making further comment,” she said.

Ms Trad said yesterday that her husband had bought the house, which is currently occupied rent-free by victims of a hostel fire in Ms Trad’s electorate.

Trad denies wrongdoing

Ms Frecklington reported Ms Trad to the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission yesterday over the revelations, but she has denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Trad said her husband bought the three-bedroom Woolloongabba home through their family company, VBT Investme­nts, in March for nearly $700,000.

The sale was registered with the state’s Titles ­Office in May.

Ms Trad said she advised the Clerk of the parliament, Neil Laurie, in May that her pecun­iary interest register would be updated, but said she only formal­ly submitted the signed documen­ts on Wednesday after inquiries from The Courier-Mail.

“I make no bones about (missing the deadline to publicly update her pecuniary interest register) and I am deeply apologetic and sorry for it,” she said.

“But allegations by the LNP that there is some conspiracy here are just not true.”

‘Stand down’ demand

The Liberal National Party Opposition seized on Ms Trad’s decision to sell the property and demanded Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stand down her deputy.

LNP deputy leader Tim Mander said the decision to sell the house was “a clear admission of guilt”.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk should immediately stand Jackie Trad down as Treasurer until her integrity crisis is resolved,” Mr Mander said.

“Jackie Trad failed to comply with the integrity framework and is in blatant breach of its rules.