Runaway Bay Sport Centre appointment court case abandoned

The trial of a former Education Queensland executive accused of putting pressure on the Managing Director of the Gold Coast’s Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre to hire a friend of former Director-General Julie Grantham has been abandoned.

As reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the trial of Glen Hoppner in the Brisbane District Court was abandoned last week after key witness David Morgan, the former Managing Director of the Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre, conceded he may have unfairly interpreted a conversation.

Hoppner was stood aside as Education Queensland’s South East Regional Director in November 2012 and later charged with misconduct following an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Prior to the collapse of the trial, Prosecutor Jacob Robson had argued that Hoppner had put “unspoken pressure” on Morgan, to appoint Hunter Paltridge as Head of Programs in June 2012.

The job was a six-month position that had been internally advertised as an ‘expression of interest’ (EOI).

Paltridge met Morgan at Grantham’s house to discuss the job and his application was later submitted past deadline via an email chain from the Director-General and Hoppner.

Morgan said he shortlisted Paltridge for an interview even though he scored lower on an evaluation matrix than the top candidates.

Hoppner was alleged to have called Morgan to inform him that Grantham was meeting with  Paltridge’s boss and that “(Hunter) is the man, it’s got to go”.

Prior to the collapse of the trial, Morgan said “I caved into that pressure.”

However, under cross-examination from defence barrister Saul Holt QC, Morgan conceded his interpretation of the conversation may have been “substantially clouded” by his concern about Grantham’s influence on the hiring process.

Holt stated “you have inferred and interpreted unfairly the suggestion that he directed you to appoint Hunter Paltridge.”

Morgan replied “that’s reasonably possible.”

The Court heard the because of his position Hoppner could have appointed someone as Head of Programs at any time and that EOI positions were often informally recruited in the public service with no requirement to advertise.

Paltridge was not accused of any wrongdoing. 

Image: The Runaway Bay Sport and Leadership Excellence Centre.

17th June 2015 - VALE: RON CLARKE, OLYMPIAN AND LEISURE INDUSTRY INNOVATOR

7th September 2012 - DAVID MORGAN ELECTED TO FITNESS AUSTRALIA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

4th February 2011 - PYE DEPARTS GOLD COAST SPORTS SUPER CENTRE

4th August 2009 - TOP LEVEL SPORT ACADEMY ESTABLISHED ON THE GOLD COAST