A former Queensland education bureaucrat was paid $630,000 while suspended during a corruption probe. 

It was revealed in QUeesnland Government budget estimate this week that former education department deputy director-general Jeff Hunt - who engaged in misconduct over a school principal appointment saga - was paid over $600,000 while suspended on full pay for more than two years. That figure did not include any additional employment contract entitlements.

Mr Hunt was stood aside in May 2020 after the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) launched an investigation into the recruitment process for a new principal at a school at Dutton Park in inner Brisbane. He resigned earlier this month.

The probe cost the job of former deputy premier Jackie Trad, who quit cabinet but was later cleared of any criminal conduct or wrongdoing.

At the time, then CCC chair Alan MacSporran said Mr Hunt set up a meeting with Ms Trad to “test” a candidate, an action that was “entirely inappropriate”.

A disciplinary probe by the Public Service Commission (PSC) subsequently found Mr Hunt had engaged in misconduct in relation to the appointment, by “inappropriately” involving himself in the recruitment process for the principal of the Inner City South State Secondary College (ICSSSC). He was also alleged to have “overruled” a selection panel's first pick, and the authorised delegate who had approved that appointment.

The position was later readvertised at a more senior level, reportedly  based on modelling that the school would likely outgrow its projected size, but Mr Hunt was found to have engaged in misconduct by failing to accurately record the reasons for the decision to readvertise and misleading the director-general about the reasons. Another person was appointed to the role after it was readvertised.

The PSC says its disciplinary process is yet to be finalised.