Former deputy premier Jackie Trad has been cleared of any wrongdoing over the appointment of a school principal, but her interference in the process posed a "corruption risk", according to the state's corruption watchdog.
Ms Trad was investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission over the selection process for the principal of a new high school in her South Brisbane electorate.
She denied any wrongdoing but stood down from her cabinet position in May.
A CCC report tabled in parliament found there was no evidence that Ms Trad committed a criminal offence or that she was motivated by any dishonest or corrupt intent.
"Notwithstanding this, the nature of her involvement in DoE decision-making created a corruption risk," the CCC report said.
The CCC found Ms Trad did not intend to influence decision-making in the way she did.
"The decision to involve the deputy premier in the recruitment process was ill-advised. The failure to keep records fell well below the standards expected of senior public servants."
CCC chair Alan MacSporran QC said the investigation uncovered some "worrying and disturbing practices".
Those practices included keeping very poor or no records of key decisions, misleading a candidate, publishing or using false information to make decisions, and deleting an email supposed to remain on the public record.
"All Queensland public servants and elected officials should read this report to see how a straightforward recruitment process went off the rails. This type of conduct should never occur again," Mr MacSporran said.
The premier's office declined to comment on the report.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called for the recruitment process within the Department of Education to be overhauled, and for the premier to rule out ever returning Trad to cabinet.
"Just because what they found wasn't a criminal offence doesn't make it right," she told reporters on Thursday.
"Why was Jackie Trad allowed to influence an independent recruitment process that had already been decided? It is simply not good enough."
Australian Associated Press
