The senior bureaucrat at the centre of the controversial school principal appointment saga that engulfed the Queensland government two years ago has been found to have committed "misconduct" and could be sacked.
Jeff Hunt was the deputy director-general of the education department when the opposition raised concerns about the selection of a school principal for the new Inner City South State Secondary College.
He was stood aside and former deputy premier Jackie Trad quit cabinet in May 2020 after the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) confirmed it was investigating the recruitment process.
Ms Trad was later cleared of any criminal conduct or "dishonest or corrupt intent".
Now it can be revealed Mr Hunt — who has been suspended with pay since 2020 — has been found guilty of misconduct during a disciplinary probe by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The details have been made public after he recently lost an appeal in the state's industrial relations commission (QIRC) trying to argue the disciplinary decision was not fair and reasonable.
One allegation substantiated by the PSC was that Mr Hunt "inappropriately" involved himself in the recruitment process for the principal and "overruled" a selection panel's first pick, as well as the authorised delegate who had approved that appointment.
The position was later readvertised at a more senior level based on modelling that the school would likely outgrow its projected size, and another person was appointed.
"[The decision-maker] was satisfied [Mr Hunt] had abused the trust and confidence given to him as a senior executive within the department of education," the QIRC judgement said.
"On that basis, he concluded that the Appellant had been found guilty of misconduct that is inappropriate or improper conduct in an official capacity within the meaning of s187 of the PS Act."
Mr Hunt was also 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.
"The decision-maker was satisfied [Mr Hunt] had edited and approved a briefing note to the director-general which he knew contained misleading information," the judgement said.
Other substantiated allegations included that Mr Hunt's decision to change the student enrolment numbers for the school to justify re-advertising the principal job was "dishonest and inherently improper". He was found to have committed misconduct.
A sixth allegation relating to a media statement did not amount to misconduct but it breached Mr Hunt's obligation around diligence, the ruling said.
The findings were made by Bob Gee, the director-general of the department of agriculture, in September last year, with Mr Hunt told there were "disciplinary grounds".
"Notice was given … that … consideration would be given to taking disciplinary action against him," the judgment said.
"[He] was also advised by the decision-maker that serious consideration would be given to the termination of [his] employment."
In his QIRC case, Mr Hunt argued that illogical or irrational conclusions were made during the investigation by the investigator and decision-maker.
"[He] notes … previous unblemished professional reputation with almost a decade in the role of deputy director-general has been damaged by the investigation and the associated unlawfulness," the judgement said.
But QIRC deputy president Daniel O'Connor ruled the decision was fair and reasonable and upheld it.
In a statement, the PSC said the published QIRC decision "affirmed a disciplinary finding against Mr Hunt that he engaged in misconduct".
"As the QIRC decision has now been published, the discipline process will proceed in accordance with the principles of natural justice," the statement said.
"No further comment can be provided because of privacy legislation."
The Department of Education said it respected the decision handed down in the QIRC matter.
"The Department will be making no further public comment at this time, while other matters are still under the consideration of the Public Service Commission," a spokesperson said.
