Who is Jackie Trad?
Jackie Trad is the current sitting Member of South Brisbane and up until recently was the Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Treasurer of Queensland from 2015 to 2020.
Crime and Corruption Commission
The Crime and Corruption Commission is an independent statutory body which is formulated to reduce the incidence of major crime and corruption in the public sector in Queensland.
The CCC investigate crime and corruption and have oversight of the public sector including Police and protected witnesses.
Between 1 July 2019 and 31 December 2019 there have been 55 people charged with 197 criminal offences, 1,620 corruption complaints received and $5,379,000.00 proceeds of crime confiscated due to the CCC’s involvement.
The CCC conduct investigations and hold special powers under the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 and the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.
Under the Crime and Corruption Act 2001, there are two types of corrupt conduct, Type A and Type B.
Type A corrupt conduct involves conduct that affects, or could affect, a public officer. Examples of Type A corrupt conduct include fraud and theft, extortion, unauthorised release of information, obtaining or offering a secret commission and nepotism.
Type B corrupt conduct involves specific types of conduct that impairs, or could impair, public confidence in public administration. Examples of Type B corrupt conduct include fraud relating to an application for a permit or licence, dishonesty obtaining public funds or State assets and evasion of State tax.
But why?
On 9 May 2020 the CCC released a short statement indicating it is in the public interest to investigate allegation of corrupt conduct relating to the principal of the Inner-City South State Secondary College.
Specifically, the formal investigation relates to the recruitment and selection process for the principal of the College and whether or not there was any interference in the process by Jackie.
Did Jackie Trad have to resign?
No, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the resignation and stated Jackie had “made the decision in the best interests of her family, the community and the party. She does not want there to be any distraction for the government as we respond to the COVID crisis, and where the government must be focused on recovery and jobs.”
This is Jackie’s second investigation in relation to her conduct within 12 months, previously she was investigated and cleared in relation to allegations of corruption over the purchase of a $700,000.00 investment property.
Possible Repercussions
The CCC investigates and makes recommendations about what should happen to the public official or body.
The CCC cannot find a public servant guilty of a crime or discipline them for misconduct. The CCC can simply recommend that the public servant be prosecuted for a crime or for the public official’s employer to discipline them.
In 2005 / 2006 the CCC (then called the Crime and Misconduct Commission) investigated the then Serving Health Minister Gordon Nuttall who was later charged with Corruption offences and sentenced to 7 years jail.