Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace’s admission on Jackie Trad inquiry

Grace Grace told Jackie Trad ‘in passing’ a preferred principal candidate for a school in Ms Trad’s electorate had been dumped.

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: AAP

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace has revealed she told former deputy premier Jackie Trad “in passing” that a preferred principal candidate for a new high school in Ms Trad’s electorate had been dumped.

The Liberal National Party Opposition says Ms Grace’s statement to parliament contradicts her earlier insistence she had nothing to do with the controversial appointment process of the principal, now under ­investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Ms Trad was forced to resign from her ministerial and leadership positions after the CCC confirmed a formal investigation into her alleged interference in the recruitment of the Inner City South State Secondary College’s first principal.

The former treasurer is ­alleged to have met with the preferred candidate for the position — selected by an independent panel — before that candidate was dumped and another person hired. After allegations emerged, the Department of Education ­director-general said the position was readvertised after modelling showed the school would be bigger than predicted, and needed an executive principal.

Ms Trad has denied any wrongdoing.

After questions from opposition education spokesman Jarrod Bleijie in parliament, Ms Grace conceded she had spoken to Ms Trad about the appointment process.

“These are operational matters and I reiterate in this House once again that the minister has no role in the appointment of a principal,” Ms Grace said.

“The CCC has full powers to investigate matters and I think they should be allowed to get on with the job.

“When the decision was made, with regards to the reclassification, I think — in passing — I let the deputy premier know the position has been regraded to an executive principal, after I had been informed.”

Ms Grace had previously said: “The appointment of a principal is an operational matter independently handled by the ­Department of Education without involvement from myself or my office.”

Mr Bleijie told The Australian Ms Grace’s admission in parliament was a contradiction and raised more questions than it ­answered. “The Minister for Education has today confirmed that she did have personal discussions with Jackie Trad about the selection of the school principal,” he said.

“This is quite different to what the minister has been saying up until now … clearly the minister now has to say … what was the conversation and what advice did she give Jackie Trad?”

Ms Trad briefly ducked into the parliamentary chamber on Tuesday during new Labor MP Lance McCallum’s maiden speech, but did not take a seat on the backbench.

She spoke briefly to Labor MP for Toohey, Peter Russo, then left.