Former Queensland education bureaucrat Jeff Hunt paid $630,000 while suspended during Dutton Park school probe

Jeff Hunt was the deputy director-general of the education department and was suspended with pay in 2020. (ABC News)

A former senior education department bureaucrat who engaged in misconduct over a school principal appointment saga was paid more than $600,000 while suspended on full pay for more than two years.

It was revealed in budget estimates at state Parliament that former education department deputy director-general Jeff Hunt – who was stood aside in May 2020 and resigned earlier this month – had received $630,000 in salary payments.

That figure did not include any additional employment contract entitlements.

Mr Hunt was suspended after the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) launched an investigation into the recruitment process of a principal for a new school at Dutton Park in inner Brisbane.

The probe also caused former deputy premier Jackie Trad to quit cabinet, but she was later cleared of any criminal conduct or wrongdoing.

At the time, then CCC chair Alan MacSporran said Mr Hunt's actions in relation to the recruitment process where he set up a meeting with Ms Trad to "test" a candidate was "entirely inappropriate".

The Inner City South State Secondary College in Dutton Park, Brisbane, was due to open last year, but began operating this year. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)

The ABC revealed earlier this year that a disciplinary probe by the Public Service Commission (PSC) found Mr Hunt had engaged in misconduct in relation to the appointment.

One allegation substantiated by the PSC was that Mr Hunt "inappropriately" involved himself in the recruitment process for the principal of the Inner City South State Secondary College (ICSSSC) 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.

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.

Mr Hunt resigned from his role as deputy director-general of corporate services this month.

In a statement earlier this month, the PSC said it was normal practice to suspend a public servant when they were facing misconduct allegations.

The PSC went on to say its disciplinary process was yet to be finalised.