Corruption watchdog to investigate eHealth Qld recruitment

Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission will launch a formal investigation into allegations of nepotism within the state’s eHealth agency which recently forced its CIO to step aside.

On New Years’ Day, Queensland Health confirmed it had stood down two senior executives following a complaint about internal recruitment processes.

The Courier Mail named one of the executives as Colin McCririck, CEO of eHealth Queensland and the health department’s CIO.

The other was named as deputy secretary Susan Middleditch, whose husband was allegedly handed the top human resources role within eHealth Queensland under circumstances that will now be investigated by the CCC.

It was alleged Middleditch’s daughter was also hired by the department.

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The internal complaint has now formally been escalated to a CCC inquiry, the watchdog confirmed today.

"In December 2015, Queensland Health notified the Crime and Corruption Commission about allegations of corrupt conduct relating to recruitment processes," it said in a statement.

“The CCC has assessed these allegations and has determined it is in the public interest to advise it has commenced an investigation to determine if there has been any corrupt conduct.

“While these matters remain under investigation, the CCC will make no further comment.”

Queensland Health and the office of Health Minister Cameron Dick declined to comment while the investigation is underway.