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| Noel Pearson says release of confidential school audits ‘unlawful’ Noel Pearson says release of confidential school audits ‘unlawful’ | |
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| Noel Pearson has complained to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission about the “unlawful” release of confidential audits of his Cape York Academy by the state education department. | Noel Pearson has complained to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission about the “unlawful” release of confidential audits of his Cape York Academy by the state education department. |
| The Indigenous leader, who is negotiating with the department over his future involvement in Queensland schools, claims the documents were released in breach of the Right To Information Act because his Good To Great Schools Australia organisation was not consulted. | The Indigenous leader, who is negotiating with the department over his future involvement in Queensland schools, claims the documents were released in breach of the Right To Information Act because his Good To Great Schools Australia organisation was not consulted. |
| But the department has said the documents, which raised questions around financial management of schools it jointly ran with GGSA, were released administratively, meaning GGSA did not need to be told. | But the department has said the documents, which raised questions around financial management of schools it jointly ran with GGSA, were released administratively, meaning GGSA did not need to be told. |
| Pearson wrote to the CCC on Tuesday to say the release was “unlawful; improper and an abuse of process” and GGSA should have been notified, the Australian reported. | Pearson wrote to the CCC on Tuesday to say the release was “unlawful; improper and an abuse of process” and GGSA should have been notified, the Australian reported. |
| Pearson cited section 37 of the RTI Act, which he said mandated with “third parties (such as GGSA) who may be affected by the release of a document of an agency”. | Pearson cited section 37 of the RTI Act, which he said mandated with “third parties (such as GGSA) who may be affected by the release of a document of an agency”. |
| The complaint is directed at the department and its director-general Jim Watterson, whose letter taking Pearson to task over his alleged personal abuse of Watterson and his staff was also reported by the ABC. | The complaint is directed at the department and its director-general Jim Watterson, whose letter taking Pearson to task over his alleged personal abuse of Watterson and his staff was also reported by the ABC. |
| A spokeswoman for the department told the Australian it “informally” released the audits to the ABC, which had sought access in an RTI application. | A spokeswoman for the department told the Australian it “informally” released the audits to the ABC, which had sought access in an RTI application. |
| The education minister, Kate Jones, whose spokesman confirmed her account of Pearson personally abusing her in the past, has told parliament the audits were “released to the ABC under the right to information legislation”. Her spokesman said she stood by her statement. | The education minister, Kate Jones, whose spokesman confirmed her account of Pearson personally abusing her in the past, has told parliament the audits were “released to the ABC under the right to information legislation”. Her spokesman said she stood by her statement. |
| It is understood the department decided to release the two audit reports – which were critical of its own accounting processes for the GGSA schools – after advising the ABC that the broad scope of its original RTI application would be time-consuming and costly to process. | It is understood the department decided to release the two audit reports – which were critical of its own accounting processes for the GGSA schools – after advising the ABC that the broad scope of its original RTI application would be time-consuming and costly to process. |
| Pearson said the release of the internal department audit of Cape York Academy “did or had the potential to prejudice” a current investigation by the Queensland audit office. That report was due by the end of 2016. | Pearson said the release of the internal department audit of Cape York Academy “did or had the potential to prejudice” a current investigation by the Queensland audit office. That report was due by the end of 2016. |
| Watterson, in the wake of his reported exchanges with Pearson, has stepped aside from negotiations over terms of GGSA’s future involvement in the remote Indigenous schools of Coen and Hopevale. | Watterson, in the wake of his reported exchanges with Pearson, has stepped aside from negotiations over terms of GGSA’s future involvement in the remote Indigenous schools of Coen and Hopevale. |
| They are now being handled by his deputy director-general, Patrea Walton. Pearson pulled GGSA out of its largest school, Aurukun, in response to the department’s move to limit the use of its contentious Direct Instruction curriculum. | They are now being handled by his deputy director-general, Patrea Walton. Pearson pulled GGSA out of its largest school, Aurukun, in response to the department’s move to limit the use of its contentious Direct Instruction curriculum. |
| Pearson in Brisbane last week complained there was “more insight in the reality television of [SBS’s] recent First Contact series than there has been in the ABC’s investigative reporting on me and my schools work over the past two weeks”. An ABC spokeswoman declined to comment. | Pearson in Brisbane last week complained there was “more insight in the reality television of [SBS’s] recent First Contact series than there has been in the ABC’s investigative reporting on me and my schools work over the past two weeks”. An ABC spokeswoman declined to comment. |
| Independent Cook MP Billy Gordon, whose seat covers Aurukun, told the Australian the release had “all the hallmarks of a leak designed to damage the work of Cape York Academy with little regard for the education opportunities for the children of Aurukun”. | Independent Cook MP Billy Gordon, whose seat covers Aurukun, told the Australian the release had “all the hallmarks of a leak designed to damage the work of Cape York Academy with little regard for the education opportunities for the children of Aurukun”. |