Texts with bureaucrat headache for Jackie Trad

Jackie Trad’s hopes of staying in parliament could depend on the existence of an alleged text exchange with a public servant.

Observing social distancing, Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey, centre, his wife Kaye de Jersey, bottom right, along with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, bottom left, and the newly sworn-in ministers at Government House in Brisbane on Monday. Picture: AAP

Jackie Trad’s hopes of staying in parliament ahead of this year’s election could depend on the existence of an alleged text exchange with a senior public ­servant.

A day after Ms Trad quit as treasurer and deputy premier, it emerged the corruption probe that forced her resignation has also ensnared a senior executive in Queensland’s Education ­Department.

The senior bureaucrat, who has not been named, was stood aside on Monday while facing scrutiny from the Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into allegations Ms Trad last year interfered in the recruitment of a principal for a new school in her inner-city electorate.

Despite being forced to quit over the CCC probe — amid growing angst among fellow MPs and the withdrawal of support from powerful union backer Gary Bullock — Ms Trad renominated to stand as Labor candidate in her South Brisbane electorate at the October 31 election.

Labor insiders say Ms Trad is likely to secure automatic ­endorsement unless there is an adverse CCC finding against her.

The state opposition confirmed it had received correspondence from the Department of Education that it was “consulting third parties” over a Right to Information request for alleged text messages between Ms Trad and a senior bureaucrat over the recruitment of a principal between January and July last year.

In February, opposition frontbencher Jarrod Bleijie — who took the allegations to the CCC — asked Ms Trad in parliament if she had exchanged text messages with any Education Department officials about the recruitment of school principals.

Jackie Trad. Picture: AAP

Ms Trad refused to directly answer the question, but said: “I can only assume it refers to the matter which he has personally written to the CCC about, so I will leave it at that.”

The opposition released correspondence with RTI officers on Monday that stated “while processing the documents captured by the request I identified a couple of issues that I need to follow up internally”, before seeking an extension to determine if the documents would be released.

Mr Bleijie said the correspondence appeared to confirm the text messages existed.

It is not known whether the CCC knows of the existence of any text messages, with a spokesman for the watchdog saying it was inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.

Ms Trad has denied any wrongdoing, saying she “never expressed a view to anyone on who should fill that role” as principal of the new Inner City South Secondary School. On Saturday, she said she had been informed by the CCC on Friday that an assessment of the allegations had become an official investigation.

“It will provide me with an opportunity to set the ­record straight on this matter,’’ Ms Trad said on Saturday.

Mr Bleijie said Ms Trad should publicly release the alleged text messages.

“If she claims she has done nothing wrong then she should release the text messages immediately,” he said.

“Hiding the text messages means she is clearly worried about incriminating herself. Jackie Trad arrogantly thinks she is above the rules and doesn’t need to explain herself to voters.

“She only resigned after her union masters decided her position was untenable and gave her the marching orders.

“Her allegiances are to the unions first, then herself, and voters are a distant last.”

Ms Trad’s replacement as Treasurer, Cameron Dick, was sworn in on Monday, along with other ministers to their new portfolios, which followed a cabinet reshuffle and which included the elevation of Health Minister Steven Miles to Deputy Premier.

A member of the Left faction, Mr Miles is now the most senior member of the United Workers Union, headed by Mr Bullock, which also counts five other cabinet ministers among 18 MPs as members.

After being sworn in as Deputy Premier, Mr Miles said: “My immediate focus is continuing Queensland’s world-leading response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a statement, Depart ment of Education director-general Tony Cook said: “A senior executive of the Department of Education has been stood aside today from their position with the department, effective immediately.

“Out of respect for the executive’s privacy, no further comment will be made at this time.”