‘Back to the dark days’: Gov stands firm on controversial QRC choice

Labor claims Queensland risks being dragged back to the “dark days” of the Bjelke-Petersen era with Director-General John Sosso’s involvement in redrawing electoral boundaries.

Director-General John Sosso. Pic: Tim Marsden.

• Editor’s view: Doesn’t pass pub test

Queensland risks being dragged back to the “dark days” of the Bjelke-Petersen era with the state government standing firm on Director-General John Sosso’s involvement in redrawing electoral boundaries, Labor claims.

But the government has ­argued Mr Sosso is fit for the role due to his 41 years in the public service, including six years under the Goss Labor government, dismissing the claims as a cheap attempt to besmirch his reputation.

The Courier-Mail on Wednesday revealed Mr Sosso, a former LNP member, had been nominated by Attorney-General Deb Frecklington to join the Queensland Redistribution Commission (QRC).

Opposition Leader Steven Miles, in a splintering attack on the LNP’s integrity, has condemned the move, saying it flew in the face of the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

“It seems that this Premier wants to drag us back to the 1980s back to the days of the moonlight stage, the darkest days of Queensland politics,” Mr Miles said.

“The LNP are sneakily attempting to undermine the independence and integrity of the commission by appointing Director-General John Sosso … (his) connections to the Liberal Party run very deep, and it’s these deep political roots that make him an unacceptable choice for this position.”

Read our editorial on this story here.

Jarrod Bleijie and John Sosso in 2015.

Ms Frecklington defended Mr Sosso’s independence, saying he had written “key pieces of legislation” for former ­premier Wayne Goss.

“(You are) defaming a public servant who has served for multiple decades under both Labor and LNP,” she said.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, the minister with whom Mr Sosso works directly, said Labor had launched “unhinged attacks” before revealing Mr Sosso had also applied to become a member of the Labor Party in 1972.

Mr Miles, in an attempt to pressure the government in reversing Mr Sosso’s appointment, introduced a motion requesting the government ­ensure appointments to the QRC “are truly independent and beyond reproach”, however, it was rejected.

Earlier, the government shut down a question to Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) chairman Bruce Barbour about Mr Sosso’s recommended appointment.

Without naming Mr Sosso, Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon used a ­parliamentary committee to ask Mr Barbour whether such an appointment would be ­appropriate.

“I just wanted to ask the CCC whether you believe that individuals appointed to the Queensland Redistribution Commission should be truly independent beyond reproach and have no political affiliations?” Ms Scanlon said.

Committee chairman Marty Hunt said that the question did not relate to the committee’s discussions.

“That’s outside the scope … I rule that out of order,” Mr Hunt said.