The daughter of a University of Queensland chief secured a spot in a medical course over 343 more suitable applicants, a report has revealed.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission tabled its report into a nepotism scandal at the university on Friday.
The scandal forced the resignation of UQ Vice-Chancellor Paul Greenfield and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Michael Keniger.
The report reveals Mr Greenfield’s daughter secured a spot on the medical course ahead of hundreds of other better applicants.
It says university staff did not immediately report their nepotism concerns because Mr Greenfield himself had responsibility for dealing with such matters.
“It is clear from the reviews and investigation undertaken by the CMC the decision to offer a place in the 2011 undergraduate medical program to the daughter of the then Vice-Chancellor was not based on merit,” the CMC report says.
“The offer was more than an irregularity in the enrolment process as previously described by the University and helped the student in question receive an offer before 343 other students who were better placed to receive an offer.”
The CMC found the university had played down the scandal in public statements in order to protect its reputation.
The university had also not been transparent about why professors Greenfield and Keniger resigned in late 2011.
“The CMC considered the public statements made by the University of Queensland in November 2011 downplayed the seriousness of the matter and the involvement of two of its most senior executives,” the CMC said.
The watchdog said it had been unhappy about the university’s decision not to be specific about the reasons for the men’s resignations.
The watchdog also revealed it had asked for their resignation dates to be brought forward.
Acting CMC Assistant Commissioner Misconduct Kathleen Florian said the public must be able to have faith that decisions on university places are based on merit and equity.
“It may be considered that the right balance was not struck between the public interest on the one hand, and protecting the reputation of the university and the reputations of the two most senior officers on the other,” she said in a statement.
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