Opposition, former LNP premier raise questions over top doc hiring
By Matt Dennien
The news
The Labor Opposition called on Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie to explain why recruitment for the key chief health officer role was restarted after an external merit-selected candidate was dropped.
The comments, and flagged corruption watchdog referral, come after new revelations the LNP had been aware of past Greens signage at Dr Krispin Hajkowicz’s home and a current “Save Victoria Park” sign opposing the flagship 2032 Games stadium the government had previously promised not to build.
While senior government ministers for a second day largely refused to answer questions about the recruitment process, former LNP premier-turned Libertarian Party figure Campbell Newman has criticised his former colleagues if such signage was a factor.
Labor deputy leader Cameron Dick and shadow health minister Mark Bailey at a press conference in Brisbane on Thursday.Credit: Courtney Kruk
A government spokesperson late on Thursday seemed to suggest Hajkowicz’s selection was not supported because he had backed out of an earlier appointment to replace now-Governor Jeannette Young in the role.
Why it matters
Hajkowicz was set to be announced as the formal replacement for Dr John Gerrard – who left at the end of his term in December – after the search by recruitment agency HardyGroup, but job ads have since re-emerged and the government has refused to explain why.
The firm first announced it had partnered with the department to recruit for the role in May, with applications closing about one month later. The recruitment campaign was launched again late last week.
Hajkowicz, a senior infectious diseases specialist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, was previously appointed as chief health officer under the former Labor government to replace Young in 2021, but ultimately decided not to take up the role for personal reasons.
What they said
Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick said the party was considering its options, but believed the situation “raise[s] concerns about whether this is something that contravenes the Crime and Corruption Act”.
“It’s unlawful in Queensland, under relevant legislation, to prejudice anyone in the public sector because of their political opinions,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“People are entitled to express a view on a whole range of things, but when they have the professional expertise, qualifications and experience that have been appropriately assessed by a selection process and power and then, of course, those issues should be irrelevant.”
Newman told this masthead: “To simply say that you support protecting a vital piece of inner-city green space, that shouldn’t be something that disqualifies you from the role of CHO”.
“I really hope that this has had no bearing on the government’s decision to appoint a new chief health officer – that would be quite awful if that was the case.”
Another perspective
HardyGroup and Hajkowicz have been contacted for comment. This masthead sent questions to the offices of Crisafulli, Bleijie, and Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Thursday morning.
In response, a government spokesperson late on Thursday said only that the job was a “very forward-facing leadership role”.
“On October 5, 2021, Dr Hajkowicz was announced as the State’s Chief Health Officer. He resigned from the role three weeks later,” they said.
“The government is not confident that the stability and longevity Queenslanders expect in this role has yet been met and the recruitment process is ongoing.”
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