CCC’s role in sacking of Logan City Council to be probed
A public inquiry will be held into the state corruption watchdog’s investigations that led to Logan councillors being wrongly charged.
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A public inquiry will be held into the Crime and Corruption Commission’s investigations into Logan City Council, which led to “a travesty of justice” with seven councillors being wrongly charged with fraud.
The parliamentary crime and corruption committee confirmed the inquiry in a letter to the Local Government Association of Queensland.
PCCC chairman John Krause said his committee intended to publish allegations against the CCC made in a submission by the LGAQ.
“The scope of the inquiry and how it will be conducted will be announced in due course,’’ Mr Krause said in the letter.
LGAQ president and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson welcomed the decision.
“Lives, reputations and careers have been ruined and a duly elected council wrongly dismissed,” he said.
“The LGAQ has been resolute in its call for an inquiry to ensure this travesty of justice is not swept under the carpet, and we thank the PCCC for its decision today.”
Mr Jamieson said the LGAQ would like some input into the terms of reference to ensure the inquiry canvassed all necessary issues.
The inquiry was forced by a 73-page legal submission to the PCCC by three barristers who level serious accusations against CCC investigators.
The role of CCC chief Alan MacSporran was now under a cloud, according to one source.
Mr MacSporran has been embroiled in several controversies, leading to the CCC being criticised a diverse group including the esteemed Clerk of the Parliament Neil Laurie, former premier Campbell Newman, popular Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, former police commissioner Ian Stewart, Member for Burleigh Heads Michael Hart and LGAQ chief executive officer Greg Hallam.
The seven councillors who were cleared of fraud were unfairly denied a chance to contest the local government elections.
Mr Hallam declined to comment, but is on the record as saying the sacked councillors deserve compensation.
State Cabinet was last night divided on whether to permit Mr MacSporran to remain in the role pending the inquiry.
A CCC spokesman said the watchdog was advised of the inquiry yesterday afternoon.
“The CCC declines to comment further,” he said.
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