Queensland Politics Rocked by Bombshell Report of Alleged Political Interference

A Bombshell Report Rocks Queensland Politics

Queensland politics were rocked this week by a bombshell report detailing extraordinary allegations at the highest level of the state's bureaucracy. The report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, painted a picture of a near-unstoppable political force in the form of former deputy premier Jackie Trad.

The report, compiled by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), investigated the appointment of the state's under treasurer in 2018. While it found insufficient evidence to support prosecution against Ms Trad, it did paint a damning picture of her conduct.

The report alleged that Ms Trad exerted immense pressure to have her preferred candidate appointed, even though the candidate had been deemed "not appointable" by an independent panel. It also detailed an incident where Ms Trad allegedly yelled down the phone at then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sign off on her pick.

Ms Trad has denied all allegations, but the report has reignited calls for her to face parliament. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said on Friday that "some of the revelations there are very, very disturbing."

The report has also raised questions about the power of Queensland's corruption watchdog, which doesn't have the sweeping powers of similar bodies in other states. UQ Law Professor Graeme Orr said there was a danger in creating such all-powerful bodies, while legal expert John Wanna said it was simply the role of government to release the report despite the High Court ruling preventing it.

The release of the report is sure to have further ramifications for Ms Trad and the Labor Party, who are still finding their feet after their relegation to opposition. It also raises questions about the balance of power between the government and the judiciary in Queensland.