Queensland’s education governance landscape’s experiencing a significant reshuffle after the Liberal-National government removed 2 union representatives from the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority board (QCAAB). The decision places new emphasis on educational leadership, governance & communication, while opponents question the timing & transparency of the appointments. The changes have also intensified scrutiny because they coincide with difficult wage negotiations involving the state’s public school teachers.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek’s office confirmed that Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson besides Independent Education Union of Australia branch secretary Terry Burke would leave the board. Both reportedly discovered the decision through media coverage rather than notification. Their departures have prompted criticism about consultation & professional courtesy, particularly because the board plays an important role in curriculum, assessment & standards affecting students across schools. Queensland Government education information
Among the proposed replacements are Leesa Jeffcoat, a former senior Catholic education executive, & businessman James Power. Jeffcoat brings more than twenty years of experience within Queensland’s Catholic education system, including senior responsibilities connected with the Rockhampton diocese. Power, meanwhile, has links to the Catholic community& is establishing St John Henry Newman College, expected to begin operating in 2026 with a classical educational orientation.
Power’s appointment has attracted additional attention because of his association with Advance, a conservative advocacy organisation he helped establish 8 years ago in 2018. He served as its inaugural chair and founding backer. The organisation has campaigned against Australia’s 2050 net-zero emissions objective & supported tougher positions on immigration. His political & advocacy connections therefore add a wider ideological dimension to an administrative change within Queensland’s education system.
The government has also installed Mark Campling as chair of the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority. Campling, a former education department principal & regional director, succeeds Carol Nicoll, who resigned in June ‘26 after 11 years on the board. Langbroek described the latest appointments as an opportunity for a fresh beginning, arguing that the authority requires a broad combination of educational expertise, governance capability as well as communication.
Government reasoning comes as Queensland’s public education sector faces industrial tension. Enterprise bargaining negotiations began in February ‘26 but have failed to produce an agreement acceptable to teachers. In October ‘25, school educators overwhelmingly rejected the government’s proposed eight 8% pay increase spread across 3 years. The dispute’s now moving towards arbitration before the Fair Work Commission, while union members have undertaken industrial action during 2025.
The board shake-up also follows an embarrassing examination error that affected students preparing for their final year 12 assessments. About 140 students across 9 schools reportedly spent their weeks studying for an examination involving Caesar. The incident placed additional pressure on the curriculum authority as well as raised questions about quality control. Against that backdrop, the government says renewed leadership can strengthen confidence in Queensland’s assessment system.
For the departing union representatives, however, the circumstances remain troubling. Burke expressed disappointment after learning of his removal from media reports, saying he had expected the same courtesy he extended to people with whom he worked. Richardson similarly argued that Queenslanders should assess whether incoming board members possess the necessary experience, understanding and relationships within education, as well as considering how the appointments were handled.
The dispute highlights a broader question about representation on public education bodies. Government-appointed boards are expected to combine specialist knowledge with independent oversight. This is whilst unions argue that classroom besides workforce perspectives are essential to effective decision-making. Replacing union-linked members with figures carrying different professional or ideological backgrounds are likely to alter the board’s internal balance. Supporters tend to see renewal; critics fear a diminished voice for educators besides communities.
Queensland’s curriculum authority now enters a consequential period, with leadership changes occurring alongside industrial negotiations besides heightened attention to examination administration. The government maintains that its appointments are designed to support world-class education for students regardless of location. Critics will continue examining the experience, affiliations & selection process surrounding the new members. The outcome may influence governance as well as confidence among teachers, parents besides wider communities.
