Possible integrity issues with the State Government

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Trad's call to crime watchdog investigated

There are calls for the chief of the state's corruption watchdog to recuse himself from the integrity crisis engulfing Treasurer Jackie Trad, following revelations of a phone call between the pair.

JACKIE Trad's private ­conversations with the chairman of the Crime and Corruption Commission are set to be ­investigated by the powerful parliamentary body charged with oversight of the watchdog.

The Treasurer and Member for South Brisbane yesterday admitted her call to CCC boss Alan MacSporran on Sunday about her controversial Woolloongabba property purchase was not the first time she had called him.

Ms Trad's admission sparked calls from the Opposition and civil libertarians for Mr MacSporran to recuse himself from any investigation into whether Ms Trad's purchase of a property near the Cross River Rail project was improper.

The spectre of another probe into the integrity scandal that has engulfed the Labor Government came as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted she had no problem with Ms Trad leaving on Friday to sell Queensland as an investment destination on a week-long trade mission.

"There's no one else that can go," she said.

Ms Trad yesterday continued to distance herself from the $700,000 home along the route of Cross River Rail, saying it was her husband's decision to purchase the property through the company they co-own and he had informed her via text message.

"I was not in the market for a property," she said.

And she shrugged off her phone call to Mr MacSporran, saying she had done it before "about a Budget matter".

"It was a phone conversation that lasted five minutes," she said of Sunday's call.

However Australian Council of Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman said there would be a "great deal of scepticism" towards Ms Trad's claim it was a harmless "courtesy call".

Mr O'Gorman called for Mr MacSporran to recuse himself from any further involvement in the CCC's assessment of the property purchase, and for an investigation by the parliamentary crime and corruption committee.

"The whole circumstances of this call by the Deputy Premier have to be examined and we say that is probably best done by the parliamentary committee that supervised the CCC," he said.

Shadow treasurer Tim Mander joined calls for Mr MacSporran to recuse himself.

"It is totally inappropriate for anybody, but particularly the deputy premier of this state, after a matter has been referred to the CCC about her, to ring the CCC on the weekend," he said.

Mr MacSporran yesterday confirmed he had been contacted by Ms Trad, but declined to comment further.

Meanwhile, the Government closed ranks around the other integrity crisis dogging the administration concerning a $270,000 handout to a company part-owned by the Premier's chief-of-staff David Barbagallo.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had ordered an audit, and refused to release Mr Barbagallo's pecuniary interests statement.

[ozbob]

Bumbling incompetence everywhere ...

BUMBLERS !!

[ozbob]

What a ridiculous beat up from Merde-och. The station locations have been known for decades.

I think a lot more questions have been raised now that one of the (rejected) tenderers had a station away from the initial Park Road location / closer to the PAH.

There are probably far more legitimate reasons the tender was rejected, but this really doesn't pass the pub test now.

Agree James, this little fact disturbs me.  And it was said that the CRR DA actually supported the tender that was rejected but over-ruled by the Cabinet Committee in the end.  It just doesn't sit right with me as each little morsel of bumble leaks out.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1154119057098137601

[HappyTrainGuy]

What a ridiculous beat up from Merde-och. The station locations have been known for decades.

I think a lot more questions have been raised now that one of the (rejected) tenderers had a station away from the initial Park Road location / closer to the PAH.

There are probably far more legitimate reasons the tender was rejected, but this really doesn't pass the pub test now.

According to sources close to the bid team, the station would have been known as "New Dutton", positioned on the other side of the rail corridor and would have resolved some of the technical issues.

I'd say that was one of the flaws in their bid.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Annastacia Palaszczuk won't rule out asking Jackie Trad to stand aside

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has not ruled out asking Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to stand aside if the CCC launches an investigation into a controversial investment property in Brisbane.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk hasn't ruled out asking Jackie Trad to stand aside if the Crime and Corruption Commission launches an investigation about her purchase of a Woolloongabba property.

Ms Palaszczuk today confirmed Transport Minister Mark Bailey will now oversee the multi-billion dollar Cross River Rail project after Ms Trad removed herself from overseeing it while the matter was being considered by the CCC.

When asked if she would ask Ms Trad to stand aside if the CCC launched an investigation into the matter, Ms Palaszczuk said it was "not at that stage at the moment".

"I don't even know if it's under assessment yet, because it's been forwarded so I'll wait to see what the information is," she said.

"At the moment it hasn't even been assessed, so let's wait and see where it's at."

Mr Bailey had previously been sidelined from his ministerial duties in 2017 while the CCC investigated his use of a private email account.

He was later cleared of any corrupt conduct.

Ms Trad has been under pressure since The Courier-Mail revealed last week that she and her husband had purchased a $695,500 Woolloongabba home along the route of Cross River Rail earlier this year.

She has committed to sell the property for no profit.

The Premier today said "people needed to make sure that their paperwork is up to date".

"(Ms Trad) has apologised for that and all members know their obligations," she said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad Would also not rule out the possibility she could stand aside should the CCC decide to launch an investigation.

"Let's deal with that if it happens," Ms Trad said, adding she would make further statements should that occur.

She would not say if she regretted her decision to phone CCC chair Alan Macsporran at the weekend after she had been referred to the watchdog by the Opposition and just a day before she referred herself.

"All of the matters are before the CCC. I will let them do their job," she said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1154227947231801344

[ozbob]

[kram0]

I would like to see the maps of the rejected bid.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JoshBavas/status/1154211365378072577

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1154413353890013185

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JoshBavas/status/1154536946972053504

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> 'I will stand aside': CCC boss distances himself from Trad assessment

The head of Queensland's corruption watchdog has revealed the Deputy Premier phoned his mobile three times, contradicting Jackie Trad's insistence this week that she had only called him twice.

After the revelation from Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran in estimates hearings on Friday morning, shadow attorney-general David Janetzki called for file notes from another phone call be released.

Mr MacSporran on Friday morning removed himself from the investigation into Deputy Premier Jackie Trad's undisclosed Woolloongabba property purchase.

Ms Trad called the CCC boss on Sunday afternoon, to let him know she had referred herself to the Crime and Corruption Commission over her family company VBT Investments' purchase of the property along the route of Cross River Rail, a project for which she had ministerial responsibility.

Mr MacSporran said he would stand aside to protect the reputation of the commission, but added that the phone call from Ms Trad was "non-consequential".

It was the third time she had phoned the independent chairman, he said.

The first time was in 2018, when Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller accused Ms Trad of failing to act on alleged corruption at Ipswich City Council, the second was "months ago" to discuss funding.

Ms Trad's Sunday's call lasted three to five minutes and was a "courtesy", to let Mr MacSporran know she had referred the matter to the CCC and that she and her husband were preparing a series of documents to provide to the commission.

"She said the only thing she wanted to know was that she proposed to have a press conference and would that in any way interfere with our assessment process, and if so she was prepared to not have the press conference," he said.

"I said it didn't worry us as long as she wasn't going to discuss the details of the complaint or debate it in public."

Mr MacSporran said he was putting together an IKEA bookcase in his "trackie pants" when Ms Trad made the call to his business mobile on Sunday afternoon.

"It was non-consequential, I made no notes because there was nothing to note, I reported the call to my CEO on Monday morning," he said.

"I did not feel as if I was being influenced or there was an attempt to; she was very deferential to me in the conversation and apologetic for the Sunday call and so forth."

Mr Janetzki wrote to Mr MacSporran on Thursday, asking for an independent person to assess whether Ms Trad's purchase was corrupt, and suggested an outside Queen's Counsel be brought in to spearhead the probe.

He called for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sack her Deputy Premier, arguing Ms Trad had "failed the test of integrity".

He said file notes from a phone call Ms Trad made to the CCC chair about Ipswich City Council should be released.

Mr Janetzki said he was not aware of any members of the LNP calling the head of the CCC.

Mr MacSporran said it was "critically important" for the CCC to remain free from perceived political interference.

"I don't do that [stand aside] because I have been compromised but I do it because there is a need to enhance and maintain the reputation and transparency of the way we operate."

He said a six-member team would now handle the assessment.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would wait for an official investigation to be launched into her deputy's purchase of a house before deciding whether or not to sack her.

"I don't even know if it's under assessment yet, since it's been forwarded," Ms Palaszczuk said on Thursday before the CCC chairman fronted the estimates committee hearing.

Ms Trad, who will embark on an overseas trade mission on Friday, has stepped down from her role heading up the government's $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project in the wake of the controversy, but insists she had no role in the purchase of the home.

She said her husband had advised her by text message that he was interested in purchasing a property, but said they discussed few details.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has taken over responsibility for Cross River Rail.

He was previously investigated and cleared by the CCC of corrupt conduct over his use of a private email account

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Jackie Trad in second potential conflict over husband's law firm

As Treasurer Jackie Trad jets out of Queensland on a trade mission, a second potential integrity crisis threatens to engulf her.

BESIEGED Treasurer Jackie Trad has been accused of failing to declare that a state energy company for which she is responsible employs a law firm in which she and her husband have a major financial stake.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Brisbane branch of law firm DWF, in which Ms Trad's husband is a principal lawyer, has been on a panel of legal practices used by CS Energy for the past three years.

However Ms Trad has not listed the potential conflict of interest on State's Parliament's register of members' interests, sparking a fresh integrity crisis for the powerful Left faction leader.

Ms Trad lists herself as a beneficiary in VB Practice Trust, a partner of DWF Australia. She has also listed two of the law firm's State Government clients, WorkCover Queensland and Queensland Health.

However her declaration does not include the firm's work for CS Energy, despite it being appointed to the energy generation company's panel of legal practices in July 2016 when it was previously known as Kaden Boris Brisbane.

Ms Trad was appointed Treasurer in late 2017, which made her a shareholding minister of CS Energy and gave her significant sway over the energy company's operations.

DWF was chosen to be part of the CS Energy panel for its well-known expertise in worker's compensation, occupational health and safety and employment law.

Ms Trad's spokesman yesterday strongly denied the Treasurer should have declared CS Energy as a client of the firm, because her husband did not work on that account.

"The Deputy Premier's husband's team works directly with the organisations identified in the declaration," she said.

"Decisions around engaging legal contractors are made at an operational level and are not subject to ministerial involvement."

Shadow treasurer Tim Mander renewed calls for Ms Trad's sacking, saying she had lost all integrity.

The revelation will envelop Ms Trad in a new integrity scandal as she tours London, Paris and New York over the next week as part of a trip to sell Queensland as an investment destination. She already faces multiple investigations over her family's purchase of a $700,000 Woolloongabba property along the corridor chosen by the Government for the $7 billion Cross River Rail project, and her failure to declare the investment.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Labor integrity crisis: Will Premier stand deputy aside?

If the state's corruption watchdog proceeds with an integrity probe into Jackie Trad, we may discover just how much power her Premier really has, writes Steven Wardill.

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk faces the most challenging decision of her political career if Queensland's corruption watchdog launches a formal investigation into her deputy, Jackie Trad.

Will she stand Trad aside?

Or perhaps the more pertinent question is, can she stand Trad aside?

The scandal that has engulfed Trad over her purchase of a property within the Cross River Rail corridor has brought to the fore the long-running power struggle within the Queensland Labor Party.

Is Palaszczuk, the popular premier who brought Labor back from the brink to win two elections, really in charge?

Or when push comes to shove, does authority really reside with Trad's dominant Left faction and the influential union bosses it counts among its members?

These questions, along with all the ensuing issues standing Trad aside could create, are a hot topic of conversation right now among Labor figures, as they cast their eye towards an October 31, 2020 election date that is locked and loaded.

No one is sure what decision Palaszczuk would make, but everyone is convinced she's desperate not to make it.

Palaszczuk has played a cautious hand so far. She's neither backed her deputy nor criticised her for the improper property purchase.

"Let's wait and see where it's at," is the most the Premier has offered since this scandal beset her administration.

Of course, there's no guarantee that the Crime and Corruption Commission will decide to launch a formal investigation.

There is nothing in the public domain that suggests Trad traded on inside information.

But the timing of both the property purchase and when the decision was made around the Cross River Rail route raises questions that need to be answered.

The contract for the Woolloongabba home was signed just seven days before Trad participated in the decision on which bidder would build Cross River Rail.

And the Government chose to include a Boggo Road station closer to Trad's property even though two of the three bidders wanted to put it elsewhere.

Many Labor figures believe the watchdog is now obligated to treat the matter seriously following CCC chairman Alan MacSporran's decision to recuse himself after Trad phoned to inform him she was referring herself.

Palaszczuk's problem is that she has created the precedent of ministers stepping aside while the CCC investigates.

That's what happened in the case of Transport Minister Mark Bailey when the CCC probed his errant use of private email.

If Palaszczuk fails to do the same with Trad her lack of authority as leader will be exposed. It will appear to confirm what many have been saying, that when it comes to the tough decisions it's the deputy who is actually in charge.

And when it came to a matter of integrity, Palaszczuk chose to do nothing.

But could Trad go willingly? Could she temporarily take up a seat on the far-reaches of the backbench?

Unlikely, some say.

However, if the Government regards the political situation as grave, Trad might just surprise her detractors and make the magnanimous decision to temporarily stand down.

Such a move would put the Labor Government into uncharted waters. It would not be tenable to have another minister act as a part-time treasurer.

And as the CCC under MacSporran's leadership has shown during its probes into local government, it won't quicken the pace of its investigations just to suit the prerogatives of politicians.

The questions keep coming about whether Palaszczuk will have to remove Trad permanently for the good of her government, which Left faction figure will be deputy and who should be treasurer in any revamped frontbench.

And regardless of what the CCC decides, do Trad's transgressions breach the ministerial handbook and should this be enough to force Palaszczuk to act?

Labor figures know that their leader may have to answer to all of this.

What scares them is that the fate of the Government may rest on what Palaszczuk decides.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Trad arrives home to calls for her to stand down amid integrity saga

Queenslanders have had their say on Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad's future amid her continuing integrity crisis over a controversial house purchase near the planned path of the Cross River Rail project – and they're not happy.

QUEENSLANDERS overwhelmingly want Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to step down amid the integrity crisis surrounding the controversial purchase of an investment property along a new rail corridor.

Ms Trad returns to work this week to news of the public vote of no confidence after a week-long trade mission that failed to dampen questions over the Woolloongabba property.

The survey, commissioned by the LNP, found 74 per cent of Queenslanders want to see Ms Trad resign or be removed from the ministry as the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) looks into issues around her failure to declare the home.

The scandal involves Ms Trad's purchase of a three-bedroom house near the proposed Boggo Rd train station being built in the Cross River Rail project which she has ministerial responsibility for.

MediaReach asked 1737 people across the state last Thursday whether they believed Ms Trad should remain as minister over the saga.

Three quarters of respondents said no, including the majority of Labor voters.

Just 16 per cent said she should stay and 9 per cent had no view.

North Queenslanders were the most unimpressed with Ms Trad, with almost 80 per cent telling her to go.

The Treasurer's support was best in Far North Queensland, although an overwhelming 70 per cent of people still wanted her to go. One in five there backed her to stay.

Ms Trad has promised to sell the property but denied impropriety, saying the route for Cross River Rail had been public knowledge for years.

She also maintains plans for a new high school nearby, which will likely give an additional boost to property prices, were publicly known.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington yesterday repeated calls for Ms Trad to go.

"(Premier) Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to show some leadership and sack Jackie Trad," she said.

"If Jackie Trad thinks that by spending a week swanning around London, Paris and New York is going to make this integrity crisis go away then she is wrong."

But Education Minister Grace Grace said everyone should wait to see what the CCC found.

"I think we let the CCC do their job and once they do their job then obviously that is something to be considered at that point in time," she said.

"But in my books, everyone is innocent until proven otherwise."

CCC head Alan MacSporran has recused himself from the watchdog's investigations following revelations Ms Trad had phoned him on a Sunday to have a private conversation a day before referring herself.

Mr MacSporran told Budget estimates hearings he didn't feel compromised but would stand aside to ensure the reputation and transparency of the CCC.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will stand aside if CCC orders probe

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will stand aside if the CCC launches an investigation into the integrity saga surrounding an inner Brisbane investment property.

JACKIE Trad will stand aside should the Crime and Corruption Commission launch an investigation into the integrity saga surrounding her family's Woolloongabba investment home.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had spoken to Ms Trad about he matter and "of course" she would be standing aside should the CCC investigate.

"If the CCC does go down the path of an investigation, and we don't know whether that is going to happen or not, of course the Deputy Premier will stand down," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"That is the precedent that we have set in the past.

"I have spoken with her about that and of course she is more than happy to comply." ...

[ozbob]

Who might step in if Trad stands aside https://t.co/JeyHd62ysC #qldpol mere speculation ...

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 5, 2019

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/deputy-premier-jackie-trad-will-stand-aside-if-ccc-orders-probe/news-story/a27cf864ca862310e7d8494a4f911c6a

... The Government is on tenterhooks waiting to hear if the Crime and Corruption Commission will investigate the purchase of a Woolloongabba investment property in the Cross River Rail corridor by her family investment company.

The Courier-Mail revealed almost three weeks ago that Ms Trad failed to properly declare the property, sparking a scandal that has thrown the government into an integrity crisis.

"Let me say categorically I haven't done anything wrong," Ms Trad said yesterday.

"I will fully comply with any sort of assessment or any investigation that the CCC decide to make.

"And of course if they decide to investigate I will do the right thing.

"I will do the right thing by the Government, I will do the right thing by the Premier and I will do the right by the Labor Party." ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller says Jackie Trad integrity issue hurting Labor

Maverick Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller says the integrity scandal surrounding Jackie Trad's family property purchase is hurting the Palaszczuk Government, while also having a chop at the deputy Premier for her lack of action on another political issue.

MAVERICK Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller claims the integrity scandal that's erupted following Jackie Trad's family property purchase is hurting the Palaszczuk Government and doesn't know whether it passes the pub test.

Ms Miller said Labor people, "our heart and soul, our workers," were very concerned about the purchase, which has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning wouldn't be drawn on who would replace Ms Trad if that happened.

When asked whether Ms Trad had her support, Ms Miller referred to the Ipswich City Council saga.

"Jackie Trad never gave me any support at all when I was a Minister going through the political terrorism at that time and that was when I was pointing out the integrity issues within Ipswich City Council and she was local government minister," the Bundamba MP said.

Ms Miller said whether Ms Trad stands aside was a matter for her.

"She's made her position clear yesterday and she's going to wait on the CCC, however our experience here in Ipswich is the CCC can take months if not years," she said.

"The question is whether or not the Labor Party and the Labor Government can abide that time wait."

Meanwhile the Premier this morning said she only found out about the property purchase the day before The Courier-Mail revealed it on July 18.

"I'm not commenting until the CCC does their investigation," she said.

"The CCC is doing an assessment at the moment, they haven't even said whether they're doing an investigation.

"I'm quite sure that if the CCC investigates, they will look at those matters (Ministerial Code of Conduct)."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk kept in dark on Jackie Trad's investment home

Former premier Peter Beattie has weighed in on the integrity crisis engulfing the Palaszczuk Government following a new admission by the Premier concerning Jackie Trad's controversial property purchase near the path of Cross River Rail.

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has conceded she only learnt about Jackie Trad's controversial property purchase after questions were raised by The Courier-Mail, exposing the besieged Deputy Premier to new allegations she breached the ministerial code of conduct.

Ms Palaszczuk's extraordinary admission comes after days of stonewalling about whether Ms Trad declared the purchase at a Cabinet meeting when decisions were made that would have benefited the property.

The admission came as former premier Peter Beattie took a thinly-veiled swipe at Ms Palaszczuk over the integrity scandal engulfing her Government.

"One other powerful passion Wayne Goss and I shared in post-Fitzgerald Queensland – honesty in government matters," he said yesterday. "It is the Labor way."

The Ministerial Code of Conduct warns ministers with a potential conflict of interest must advise the Premier and withdraw from relevant Cabinet meetings.

The contract for the three-bedroom Woolloongabba property near a proposed Cross River Rail station was signed on March 27.

The Cabinet Budget Review Committee met on April 3 to decide the winning CRR bidder and again weeks later about funding a new high school nearby.

Ms Trad admitted she needed to sell the property after seeking advice from the Integrity Commissioner the following day.

Despite being responsible for ensuring ministers meet the code of conduct, Ms Palaszczuk yesterday claimed it was now a matter for the Crime and Corruption Commission.

"I'm quite sure that if the CCC investigates, they will look at those matters, I'm not pre-empting the CCC," she said.

However, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington yesterday said Ms Trad had committed a "clear breach" and should be sacked.

"Annastacia Palaszczuk is so weak it appears you have to commit a criminal offence before you get sacked from her Cabinet," she said.

Meanwhile, rogue Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller warned the scandal was hurting the administration and said whether Ms Trad stood aside was "up to her".

"She's (Trad) made her position clear yesterday (Monday) that she's going to wait on the CCC, however our experience here in Ipswich is the CCC can take months if not years," she said.

"The question is whether or not the Labor Party and the Labor Government can abide that time wait."

Beattie's thinly-veiled swipe at Premier over Trad https://t.co/q8iodQ2VNx #qldpol
On the nose, on the nose ...

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 6, 2019

[ozbob]

LNP's latest move turns up heat on Trad https://t.co/oB1hWSkHjU #qldpol

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 7, 2019

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/jackie-trad-conflict-of-interest-claimed-by-lnp-in-submission-to-watchdog/news-story/1c2a30e99949ca0fd5ca3ce4b6ae4055

TREASURER Jackie Trad could face a wider probe into her contentious property purchase after the LNP referred concerns about a new school, located 1km away, to the state's corruption watchdog.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Opposition has written to the Crime and Corruption Commission, alleging a conflict of interest relating to the Woolloongabba house purchase and the approval of the nearby Inner City South State Secondary College the following month.

Ms Trad is already facing questions about the property's proximity to her pet project, Cross River Rail, and key Cabinet decisions after the purchase.

Government insiders expect the watchdog will make a decision on whether to formally investigate Ms Trad within days, which could trigger the powerful Left faction figure to temporarily retreat to the back bench.

The integrity scandal has engulfed the Government for weeks and yesterday descended into a tit-for-tat slanging match between Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and former premier Peter Beattie. ...

[ozbob]

Lady of the house Labor could do without https://t.co/Llzv7kJm41 via @brisbanetimes #qldpol

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 15, 2019

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Annastacia Palaszczuk has another crisis hanging over head

The scandal involving her deputy has been getting all the attention, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has another major problem that could explode at any time, writes Steven Wardill.

THE integrity scandal that has engulfed Jackie Trad over her ill-fated purchase of a property along the route of the $7 billion Cross River Rail shows no sign of receding.

It is likely the Treasurer will be cleared by Queensland's corruption watchdog of any behaviour amounting to official corruption.

But a question mark will remain over Trad's future, given her failure to properly disclose the $700,000 Woolloongabba property and recuse herself from Cabinet meetings that might have benefited her interests.

Both are considered breaches of the ministerial code of conduct.

Ministers in past administrations, indeed the current Labor Government itself, have been sacked for far less.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week gave the first indication that there may be consequences for her deputy regardless of what the Crime and Corruption Commission finds, when she talked about taking "independent action".

However senior Labor figures are convinced the damage has been done already, regardless of whatever course Palaszczuk plots over Trad's transgressions.

And there is another ethics dilemma that still haunts the second-term Government that has not gone away, this one involving the Premier herself.

The issue dates back a year, when Palaszczuk threatened to strip funds from Katter's Australian Party if they did not not denounce bigoted comments from then senator Fraser Anning.

She made good on that threat at last year's ALP's state conference when KAP leader Robbie Katter refused to acquiesce to her demands.

"Because his party will not denounce him, I denounce his party and I will withdraw the additional staff granted to the Katter's Australian Party," Palaszczuk said.

Most Queenslanders would agree with the Premier's position that Anning's Nazi-inspired "final solution" speech was appalling.

Given Palaszczuk's Polish grandparent escaped the Holocaust, the Premier's anger was understandable.

However her decision to link her demands for KAP to denounce Anning with the special staff funding deal she had provided the party was a serious error.

CCC chairman Alan MacSporran QC found there was a prima facie case that Palaszczuk had breached the criminal code by threatening an MP.

While MacSporran decided it was not in the public interest for the CCC to pursue a case, he urged Parliament to consider if the Premier was guilty of contempt, or whether to refer the matter to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution.

However since MacSporran made those extraordinary comments very little has happened.

Speaker Curtis Pitt referred the matter to State Parliament's powerful Ethics Committee on October 12 last year.

And for the past 10 months, it has sat on the agenda of the committee with its six members, including three Labor and three Liberal National MPs, unable to make a decision.

Meanwhile, the committee found time in May to resolve another contempt case involving the Premier, referred a month after the matter.

That case revolved around an LNP branch warning the party's MPs they faced being disendorsed if they supported Labor's abortion law reforms.

There are similarities between the two cases, with the committee finding the LNP branch chairperson guilty of contempt but deciding against the raft of penalties available to it, which include fines and jail time, after receiving an apology.

Katter says he has growing concerns about the committee's approach.

"This is not about retribution and it is not even about having our staff returned; it is about the fact that the Premier of Queensland must be held to account in the same way a regular person off the street would be," Mr Katter said this week.

"When two QCs say there is evidence that someone has broken the law, surely this warrants investigation by the justice system?

"This matter is fundamentally about the trust people have in our political and judicial systems, and if the Premier is exempt from facing scrutiny under the law when she appears to have broken it, how can people have faith in our most important institutions?"

Those with knowledge of the committee's deliberations say there's been endless to-ing and fro-ing about how seriously to treat the allegations, and what the consequence should be.

A result is apparently close.

However Katter isn't about to settle for a mealy-mouthed report, and a late-night apology from Palaszczuk on the floor of Parliament.

He plans to forward the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions as soon as the committee finally comes to a resolution.

"To dismiss this matter without thorough investigation by the criminal justice system would mean Queenslanders would further question their faith in our legal and parliamentary systems," Katter said.

He attempted this in April, but was told by the DPP it would not consider the case while it was still the subject of Legislative Assembly proceedings.

However, it left open the prospect of assessing at a later date whether Palaszczuk should be prosecuted.

"It is unusual, but not without precedent, for this office to give an opinion about the viability of a proposed criminal prosecution where an investigative agency has declined to charge, or recommend charges," DPP Michael Byrne QC wrote.

"I thought the factual allegation you provided were sufficiently unusual and serious to warrant this office considering the matter."

"However in light of the fact that effectively the same complaint has been made to the Speaker, I decline to consider the matter at the time.

Byrne's decision not to pursue the matter immediately is prudent and proper.

But his view that the DPP may consider a prosecution of Palaszczuk is astonishing.

It's a political powderkeg for the Premier and her Government.

With just over 12 months left of this term, the prospect of the DPP pondering charging the Premier with a criminal offence in the wake of Trad's integrity scandal is a nightmare for Labor.

It could make Trad's errant property purchase seem all rather insignificant.

[ozbob]

Law firm part-owned by deputy premier given more than $5m in government fees https://t.co/hNgdzqpTdN via @brisbanetimes #qldpol <raised eyebrows>

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 17, 2019

[#Metro]

I am getting tired of all this. This is a non-story.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Pressure on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sack her chief of staff David Barbagallo

Pressure is building on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sack her chief of staff after the state's integrity watchdog confirmed allegations against David Barbagallo, if proven, amounted to corruption.

PRESSURE is building on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sack her chief of staff after the state's integrity watchdog confirmed allegations against him, if proven, amounted to corruption.

Adding to Ms Palaszczuk's problems with Deputy Jackie Trad's purchase of an inner-city investment property, The Australian reports today that the state's Crime and Corruption Commission has confirmed the seriousness of the allegations against David Barbagallo in a letter to the Opposition.

Mr Barbagallo part-owns a start-up company that allegedly received state government funding. He has denied any wrongdoing.

"While the allegation, if proven, meets the definition of corrupt conduct, the CCC and other units of public administration must work together to achieve optimal use of available resources and avoid needless duplication of work," the letter from CCC senior executive officer corruption Paul Alsbury states.

"The CCC has determined to await the outcome of a review by the Department of Premier and Cabinet into the grant allocation process and how it related to Fortress Capstone Pty Ltd before finalising the assessment."

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington told The Australian Ms Palaszczuk "needs to stand down her chief of staff until the investigation is completed. It's completely inappropriate for private sector accountants to investigate allegations of corrupt conduct."

[verbatim9]

The CFMEU must know that state Labor is on it's lasts legs and a change of Government is near.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/cfmeu-marches-on-parliament-calls-for-jackie-trad-to-resign-20190822-p52jqe.html

CFMEU marches on Parliament, calls for Jackie Trad to resign

FELICITY CALDWELL AUGUST 22, 2019

He also alleged the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project was hamstrung by "bureaucratic bungling".

"Right now we have more energy and political capital being spent on Jackie Trad's $700,000 investment property than we do on the largest infrastructure project in Queensland," he said.

CFMEU protesters outside Queensland Parliament House on Thursday.

"The CRRDA, along with Ms Trad, is simply not up to the task of managing a project that will deliver real benefits for Queensland workers, for business, the residents of south-east Queensland and indeed taxpayers in the state."

The LNP repeatedly targeted Ms Tradover the purchase of her contentious Woolloongabba house in question time each sitting day this week.

Ms Trad has been under fire over the purchase of a $695,500 property near a proposed Cross River Rail station by her family trust, a project for which she had ministerial responsibility, and failing to declare it on her register of members' interests within the required time frame.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is assessing the issue after it was referred to the body by the LNP and Ms Trad.

Ms Trad has previously pledged to stand down from the ministry if the CCC decides to launch a formal investigation.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Trad taunted 'do right thing' and resign

Hundreds of construction workers have stormed Parliament House demanding Treasurer Jackie Trad resign and the Cross River Rail delivery authority be scrapped.

It comes as Ms Trad faced a grilling during a fiery parliamentary Question Time this morning over the government's integrity crisis with MPs asking why she won't 'do the right thing by Queenslanders' and resign.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar - among those storming Parliament House - said Ms Trad and the authority were not up to the task of managing the $5.4 billion rail project from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills.

It is the strongest the union has come out against Ms Trad.

"Right now we have more energy and political capital being spent on Jackie Trad's $700,000 investment property than we do on the largest infrastructure project in Queensland," he said.

"She is no friend of the worker. The Labor Government should do the right thing."

Mr Ravbar said that Government inaction would see the CFMEU protesting up until the October 2020 election.

He said he'd never called for a politician to resign before.

Mr Ravbar said the call was due to the cumulative issues of Cross River Rail mismanagement, people "feathering their own nests with properties" and insensitive comments about miners.

"She tried to say she wasn't thinking, but that's bull****," Mr Ravbar said.

"The thing about Trad is that she's a very tough lady, and I respect that, but she knows what she says and does," Mr Ravbar said.

"There's no doubt that Trad is not well liked out there in the community."

At this stage, the CFMEU will not consider leveraging political donations to Labor to force Trad's resignation.

"I still think people like (Premier Annastacia) Palaszczuk, to be honest with you," Mr Ravbar said.

"My members still think she is a nice lady, which is unusual for someone in politics to be seen as nice.

"But some of her ministers just need to lift their game.

"It's only second term too. Wouldn't you be working 10 times harder to get re-elected?"

ETU state secretary Peter Ong said the ALP had lost it way.

"We don't expect to have to protest in front of an ALP party,"

"So for us to be out here protesting it must be really bad."

During Question Time grilling Ms Trad said she has made her position abundantly clear about if she would resign.

"I have always endeavored to do the right thing," she said.

"I will ensure that I abide by the rules and if there is an investigation that follows the assessment by the CCC I will do what is right.

"I will refer those (opposite) to the long list of issues that the Premier put on the table in relation to those opposite's track record when in government."

[ozbob]

 

[SurfRail]

It's a bit rich Ravbar accusing anybody else of malfeasance...

[Stillwater]

So, is this lot capable of pulling together, and delivering, all the infrastructure required for an Olympic Games?

[ozbob]

So, is this lot capable of pulling together, and delivering, all the infrastructure required for an Olympic Games?

Probably not.  Struggling to even remove a single LX .. 

[ozbob]

Jackie Trad in union&#39;s sights on the eve of state Labor conference https://t.co/mdAF4XIAm9 via @brisbanetimes #qldpol

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 23, 2019

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Palaszczuk must dump Trad before trip to Switzerland

SWITZERLAND must be looming like an irresistible safe haven right now for poor Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Perhaps the Premier has already pondered the prospect of drowning her sorrows over a lukewarm pond of raclette fondue while contemplating what might have been, had she dipped into the Jackie Trad integrity scandal earlier.

But before Palaszczuk jets out on her Olympics fact-finding mission and the sanctuary of the Alps on Saturday, her own penchant for neutrality will be sorely tested.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is set to resolve by Friday the matter concerning Trad and her errant property purchase along the route of her pet project, the $7 billion Cross River Rail.

But can Palaszczuk overlook her powerful deputy and make someone else acting premier in her absence?

And does anyone have a number for Roger Federer so the Premier can set up a photo op?

None of these questions, except for the one concerning the Swiss tennis great of course, would be relevant right now had Palaszczuk and Trad come to the obvious conclusion weeks ago that this situation was untenable.

It shouldn't surprise anyone who has been around the Queensland political scene for a while that the good folk down at the CCC tend to be rather diligent about matters concerning MPs.

Instead, the Government has hoisted a flag of neutrality, seemingly oblivious to the war that's raged around it and the clear incursions into its territory.

Labor has slipped in the polls and Palaszczuk's popularity has plummeted like an Alps climber without a rope, while she's refused to send Trad to the backbench to cool her heels for a while.

In the interim, Queenslanders have already decided to take up arms against their own Government.

Regardless of the CCC's decision, there's also the matter of Trad's alleged multiple breaches of the ministerial code of conduct.

Does Palaszczuk have the power to do what her predecessors have done and sack a minister in breach of the code? Or will she just take away some of Trad's responsibilities, like Cross River Rail?

And if this all happens before Palaszczuk's timely Swiss sojourn, is it really right for someone stripped of responsibilities over integrity incursions to run the state?

Trad yesterday bemoaned about not having the opportunity to tell her side of the story while skipping out quickly from a press conference that produced more questions than answers.

Hours later Palaszczuk intimated that leaving Trad in charge might not be the best idea just a day after shrugging off the same issue.

This is a mess born out of indecision and obstinance and all the chocolate in Switzerland couldn't make it sweet.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

The Opposition has unleashed on the Deputy Premier, ahead of tomorrow&#39;s watchdog ruling. @lcalcutt #qldpol #9News pic.twitter.com/7Ax2Pkm8cZ

— Nine News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) September 5, 2019

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> D-day for Annastacia Palaszczuk to take action on Jackie Trad

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has given no guarantees her deputy Jackie Trad will retain her powerful portfolios by today's end, as the she prepares to receive the corruption watchdog's ruling on her integrity saga.

The Crime and Corruption Commission will today reveal whether or not it will investigate the Woolloongabba investment property purchased by Ms Trad's husband, in the Cross River Rail corridor.

Ms Trad has promised to stand aside should an investigation be launched.

The CCC has already spent seven weeks assessing the matter.

What is not clear is what action the Premier or Ms Trad will take if she is cleared of any corrupt conduct allegations but is found to have breached the ministerial code of conduct over the house, which she failed to declare on time.

Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament yesterday she would take action over any code-of-conduct breaches, but would not say what that action would be.

The Premier later refused to say if Ms Trad — the leader of the Left faction and the second most powerful member of the Cabinet — would retain her portfolios of Treasury and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

"I don't know what the CCC is going to say," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Let's wait and see what happens."

Ms Trad has already temporarily relinquished control of the Cross River Rail project while the CCC conducts its investigation.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would reveal her decision today, before she flies to Switzerland tomorrow to meet with Olympic bosses.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick is expected to act as premier for the week.

Should Ms Trad stand aside, Mr Dick is one of four people in the running to take over her portfolios, alongside Old Guard leader Kate Jones, Ms Trad's Left factional ally Steven Miles and Ms Palaszczuk herself.

The LNP used the final Regional parliament sitting day in Townsville to launch one final attack on Ms Trad ahead of the CCC's decision.

"There are 88,640 houses for sale in Queensland today — why did the deputy premier's family, company buy that house," Leader of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie said as he unleashed an excoriating attack under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

He said she had failed to declare the purchase to Cabinet, the Cabinet Budget Review Committee and to parliament.

"She has failed, failed, failed," he said.

"Even if the CCC come back tomorrow and say that there is no threshold of corruption, there is one only possible outcome from all of this — the deputy premier must resign."

Ms Trad — who has promised to tell her side of the story today — attacked back during Question Time.

She pointed to the former Newman Government's late night sacking of the CCC's parliamentary oversight committee as well as its decision to raise the political donation declaration threshold from $1000 to $13,000.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

CCC decides not to investigate Deputy Premier Jackie Trad but calls for improvements to cabinet processes.

http://www.ccc.qld.gov.au/news-and-media/ccc-media-releases/ccc-determines-not-to-investigate-the-deputy-premier-but-calls-for-improvements-to-cabinet-processes-and-legislative-reform-6-september-2019