‘Sorry’ Trad to keep her job

QUEENSLAND’S Treasurer Jackie Trad admits she made a mistake by failing to properly declare a Brisbane investment property and says she is sorry.

But the Deputy Premier will keep her job and step in as acting premier after being let off the hook by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

It confirmed yesterday it would not launch an investigation into the purchase of the $695,500 fixer-upper along the route of the state’s biggest infrastructure project that Ms Trad was overseeing.

“The CCC’S assessment did not identify evidence or information suggesting a criminal offence had been committed,” the CCC said in a statement.

It noted its jurisdiction to probe suspected corrupt conduct by elected officials was limited to circumstances where it would amount to a crime if proved.

Ms Trad is yet to fulfil her promise to sell the house at the same price her husband bought it for with a family trust.

“I’m glad the CCC has found no evidence of dishonesty or corruption, but that doesn’t change the fact that I made a mistake,” she said.

“I failed to complete a disclosure process, that’s what happened.” She said she was disappointed in herself, and sorry for putting the Premier and her colleagues into the position she did, as well as giving rise to public concern.

The saga exposed the State Government to relentless pressure from the Liberal National Party, and calls for her to step down or be sacked. But she will keep all of her portfolios.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has instead punished her by not returning her to the role she had already stepped aside from: Administering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail.

That job will now go to Tourism Minister Kate Jones.

“The CCC has said very clearly that there is no allegations of corruption or dishonesty,” Ms Palaszczuk said when asked why she wouldn’t sack Ms Trad. “Finally today there is a line in the sand.”

The CCC also wants criminal penalties for failure to declare a conflict and failure to update the register of interests.

It has suggested possible removal from office for MPS whose failure to meet disclosure requirements is found to be intentional.

Ms Palaszczuk has accepted the recommendations.

Meanwhile the Premier’s own chief of staff, David Barbagallo, has resigned after being caught in a separate integrity saga.

He remains under assessment by the CCC over a State Government grant that was awarded to a company he directs and part owns.