Ex-education boss cleared

A FORMER Education Queensland boss has been cleared of allegations he put “unspoken pressure” on a subordinate to hire a friend of the department’s then directorgeneral Julie Grantham.

Glen Arnold Hoppner had pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of misconduct relating to a conversation he had with David Morgan, the managing director of the Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre, in 2012.

Mr Morgan testified he caved in to pressure to appoint Hunter Paltridge as Head of Programs without an interview after Mr Hoppner told him “(Hunter) is the man, it’s got to go”.

But under cross-examination Mr Morgan conceded his interpretation of the conversation may have been “substantially clouded” by his concern about Ms Grantham’s influence on the hiring process.

The prosecution abandoned its case against Mr Hoppner on Wednesday halfway through his trial.

Mr Paltridge is not accused of any wrongdoing.