CCC chair Alan MacSporran resigns a month after damning report

The Premier has responded to CCC chair Alan MacSporran’s announcement that he would quit the role one month after a damning report into the watchdog’s failings.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday said she did not ask Crime and Corruption Commission Alan MacSporran to resign.

Mr MacSporran announced on Tuesday he was resigning one month after a damning report identified failings within the watchdog.

Ms Palaszczuk said the government would respond to calls for a structural review into the watchdog by March.

“This is a serious matter, it’s a serious decision,” she said.

“I think the public wants to have absolute confidence in the anti-corruption watchdog in this state.”

Mr MacSporran, who was appointed as chair of the CCC in 2015, said he had written to Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman notifying her of his resignation effective this Friday.

The move comes after a damning report into the CCC identified serious failings in the watchdog’s handling of an investigation into Logan City Council.

“Many people have urged me to continue in this important role, despite the recent finding contained in the report of the parliamentary crime and corruption committee,” Mr MacSporran said.

“However, I find myself in a position where, despite a career spanning in excess of 40 years, where my honesty and integrity have never been questioned, it is clear to me that the relationship between myself and the PCCC has broken down irretrievably.

“This saddens me deeply.”

Cabinet was expected to determine the future of Mr MacSporran before February 22.

Since the PCCC’s damning report was released on December 2 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to reveal whether the chairman had her support.

Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan MacSporran

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who was investigated by the CCC and cleared in 2020 after an 18-month probe, gleefully welcomed Mr MacSporran’s resignation.

He had accused the CCC chair of “riding into the Gold Coast like a gunslinger … the biggest sheriff in town”.

Cr Tate had been vocal in his calls for Mr MacSporran to resign or be sacked.

He became embroiled in a bitter war of words with the CCC chair last year after saying that having the commission investigate him was

like “someone telling you it’s raining while standing behind you pissing down your back’’.

Mr MacSporran hit back, accusing Cr Tate of being vulgar and making comments unbecoming of an elected official.

“I greatly admire and respect the work of the PCCC that has brought us to this position,” Cr Tate said today after Mr MacSporran’s resignation.

“From this Friday, I know the weather across Queensland will be much brighter and I will no longer have that feeling of something warm running down my back.

“I’m disappointed the chair did not use his resignation media statement to apologise for the incredible pain and harm he has caused so many hardworking local government councillors and mayors.

“I support any incoming chair in their endeavours to get the CCC back to what its focus should be.

“The damage caused by this chair is immense, and it will take a comprehensive review and resetting of the values and charter of the CCC to restore any faith in the institution.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate

In his statement Mr MacSporran said he had taken the role at the CCC following more than 40 years’ experience in the criminal justice system defending and prosecuting individuals in Queensland and Commonwealth jurisdictions, and represented governments in commissions of inquiries and as a former parliamentary crime and corruption commissioner.

“In my long career, I have never, ever, let extraneous irrelevant considerations enter my thinking about a decision relating to the proper exercising of powers in proceedings as a Queen’s Counsel criminal barrister or as CCC chairperson,” he said.

Mr MacSporran said investigating corruption was complex and said he understood “the consequences of charges, let alone conviction, can be particularly grave” for people in power.

“I understand this, as do all CCC officers,” he said.

“However, the Queensland community rightly expects the CCC to do its statutory job, and that ultimately involves making very complex, tough and independent decisions as an investigative agency.

“The CCC routinely does great work, much of which cannot be spoken about publicly.

“The CCC is greater than the sum of its parts and I wish the agency every success in the future while it continues its essential role of combating major crime and reducing corruption for the benefit of all Queenslanders.”

PCCC chair Jon Krause dismissed Mr MacSporran’s claim he had resigned following a relationship breakdown with the committee.

“In this matter the PCCC did its job as required under the legislation and it did it on a bipartisan basis,” he said.

“This is not a matter of breakdown in relationships, but an outcome of a review and oversight function.”

Mr Krause said it was essential the watchdog acted independently.

“It is the paramount corruption and major crime fighting body but it’s given extraordinary powers by the people and the parliament and with that comes extraordinary responsibility,” he said.

The PCCC, which delivered its bombshell report to Parliament on December 2, made six recommendations, but rejected a submission by the Council Assisting that they recommend the removal of Mr MacSporran, who responded at the time by insisting he would continue to lead it.

Several recommendations relate to wanting the powers of the CCC reviewed, with the possibility of curbing them.

That included a royal commission-style review of the CCC to be headed by “senior counsel of sufficient standing”.

Other recommendations included consideration of the CCC’s powers to disseminate information obtained by use of their extraordinary powers and whether the CCC should be required to seek the recommendation of the Director of Public Prosecutions or a senior independent legal adviser before laying serious criminal charges.

A spokeswoman for Ms Fentiman said an acting chair would be appointed shortly.