) rrod BLEIJIE ue Teac ~ 12 May 2020 4 ‘Alan MacSporran QC Chair Crime and Corruption Commission By email: complaints @ccc. qld. gov.au Dear Sir | refer to your letter dated 8 May 2020 and to the Member for South Brisbane, Ms Jackie Trad’s announcement that the Crime and Corruption Commission was conducting an investigation into the appointment of a school principal at the Inner City South State ‘Secondary College. Since that announcement, an employee of the Department of Education has been stood down. No details have been provided as to the identity of the employee or what position they held in the Department of Education. The Education Minister has, however, confirmed publicly that this is an operational matter for the Director-General of the Department of Education. ‘As you know, my complaint related to the alleged political interference by the Member for South Brisbane in the selection of a local school principal. To assist the Crime and Corruption Commission with it , |can advise that at Budget Estimate's last year, | asked the following question to the Director-General of the Department of Education. Mr BLENJIE: Has the department had any discussions with the Deputy Premier's office with respect to the school? The reason I ask that—and it is not a trick question, Director-General—is that there are many press releases issued jointly with the Deputy Premier, being the local member, and also the minister. It is odd that a local member would issue press releases about a substantial sum of money for a new school without ministerial involvement, so | am keen to understand what involvement the Deputy Premier had with the inner city south schoo! in terms of your department's concern. ‘Mr Cook: With any schoo! that we build we regularly meet with the local member, no matter who that local member is. We have met with all local members as part of the department to keep local members up to date with any new school that might be built, as with changes of positions like principals. | am aware that my regional directors are often in contact with local members to give them information about a change in a school or a change in a principal appointment or in relation to P&C meetings. | have seen evidence of that. | have seen emails in relation to that from members of my department. In relation to the Deputy Premier, as you know she sits on the CBRC. Other than that, there is nothing that we would do that we would not normally do for a local member in relation to consultation with a school.Letter to Crime and Corruption Commission 12 May 2020 ‘At the time of asking the above-mentioned question, | was unaware of the meeting that took place between the Member for South Brisbane, the Regional Director of Education, and the meritoriously selected candidate, Ms Tracy Cook. As you know, shortly after that meeting with the Member for South Brisbane, the position of principal was re-advertised. ‘The Director-General is correct in that the Department does advise local MP’s when schoo! principals are selected (after the final decision has been made), including acting arrangements. However, MP's are not afforded, and should not be afforded the opportunity to (what appears to be in this case) ‘interview candidates' before final sign off. Itdoes seem that the meeting between the Member for South Brisbane, the Regional Director and the meritoriously selected candidate, was out of step with the normal practices of the Department of Education. ‘The Member for South Brisbane has stated publicly that she met candidates at the request of the Department of Education. | submit that such request would not have been made by the Department of Education without the Minister for Education's knowledge and consent. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the Minister for Education may be implicated in this investigation. As this matter is of great public importance, I request confirmation, or otherwise, as to whether the Minister for Education or any of her staff will be required to give evidence or information to the Crime and Corruption Commission to assist with its investigation, ‘RROD BLEWIE MP " Shadow Minister for Education and Industrial Relations an Manager of Opposition Business i< Member for Kawana