State crime watchdog to get $7.4 million to fight corruption

Queensland's crime watchdog will get a multimillion funding boost to fight corruption over the next four years.

The Crime and Corruption Commission will get $7.4 million over four years, with $1.8 million immediately allocated for the 2018-19 year.

Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission, headed by Alan MacSporran, will get a funding boost, amid a mounting workload.Credit: AAP Image/ Darren England

The CCC had a budget of $55.88 million in 2017-18.

The announcement came minutes before LNP leader Deb Frecklington asked about an opposition Right to Information request which related to complaints about corruption at Ipswich City Council received by the Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, while she was local government minister.

An RTI charges estimates estimates notice revealed 326 pages of documents.

It is understood the documents relate to three complaints, which were investigated.

"Given the member for Bundamba's [Jo-Ann Miller] previous claims that her warnings were ignored, can the Premier guarantee that every one of these complaints were referred to the CCC for a thorough investigation at the time they were received?" Ms Frecklington asked.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Ms Miller took some of her concerns to the CCC.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said all matters which had come to his attention, which deserved to be referred to the CCC, had been referred to the CCC.

"I'm happy to look back at other matters that have been before the department and ensure that any matters that are appropriate be referred on as well," he said.

"I can be absolutely clear that the Palaszczuk government stands squarely and firmly in favour of integrity at all levels of government."

Meanwhile, in announcing the extra funding, Ms Palaszczuk said the CCC had never been busier in recent years.

"The CCC needs backup and it's getting it," she said.

"In the past three years, the CCC's workload in public sector corruption has increased 57 per cent, complaints have increased 17 per cent, local government sector complaints have increased by 41 per cent."

The extra funding will employ eight frontline police investigators and establish a covert human intelligence unit.

Ms Palaszczuk said her government would return integrity to councils.

In July 2017, Ms Palaszczuk insisted the CCC had enough resources to deal with the mounting allegations arising from local government.

At the time, allegations had emerged that former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale had used his mayoral car for chauffeur-driven trips to brothels and massage parlours.

"I'm sure that the CCC has the resources that they need for the job that they are undertaking," she said last year.

In recent months, numerous charges have been laid against Queensland councillors, mayors and staff, including two mayors at the Ipswich City Council.

This week, the Queensland government will seek to rush through new powers for the local government minister through Parliament, including automatic suspension of councillors facing serious integrity offences and greater powers to stand down councillors.

The changes will be moved as amendments to the Implementing Belcarra bill, which will ban property developers from donating to local and state politicians.