Premier awaits CCC verdict on Trad

Qld’s premier may take “independent action” against Jackie Trad if she’s broken conflict rules.

The CCC is assessing a complaint against Qld deputy premier Jackie Trad, after she failed to publicly declare her husband’s decision to buy an investment property that was expected to rise in value thanks to its proximity to Ms Trad’s signature infrastructure project. Picture: David Clark/AAP

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could take “independent action” against her deputy Jackie Trad, if she’s found to have breached the ministerial handbook.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is assessing a complaint against Ms Trad, after she failed to publicly declare her husband’s decision to buy an investment property that was expected to rise in value thanks to its proximity to Ms Trad’s signature infrastructure project, the Cross River Rail.

The three-bedroom Woolloongabba house was bought through the couple’s family company, of which Ms Trad is a beneficiary.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would wait for the outcome of the CCC assessment, and possible investigation, before deciding whether Ms Trad should be punished for allegedly breaching the handbook, which requires conflicts of interest to be declared at relevant meetings.

“What I said that the CCC is carrying out their assessment and when they look at these issues they look at everything, they may look at the issues of pecuniary interest register, they may look at the Cabinet handbook, let’s take one step at a time and then I’ll look at whatever CCC says and then I may take independent action.

But when asked to elaborate, Ms Palaszczuk would not say what form the “independent action” might take.

‘I am not prejudging anyone here,” she said. “I think everyone needs to take a cold shower and wait until the assessment is done by the CCC.”

Ms Trad has denied any wrongdoing but has apologised for failing to update her pecuniary interest register to reflect the purchase.

The Premier also left the door open to standing aside her chief of staff, David Barbagallo, should the CCC launch a formal investigation into his business affairs.

Mr Barbagallo is the part-owner and founding director of a company that received $276,500 in state government financing to build a cruise-tracking smartphone app. The Australian revealed Mr Barbagallo increased his shareholding in the company by $100,000 as the company lodged its application for the state financing, just two months into his role with Ms Palaszczuk.

Asked whether Mr Barbagallo would stand aside if the CCC investigated, as Ms Trad indicated she would do, Ms Palaszczuk: “He’s not a minister, I’m happy to have a look at it.”