‘Inarguable’: CCC boss’s spray over Trad, Carne report secrecy

The Crime and Corruption Commission says it is “inarguable” that reports into former Jackie Trad and Peter Carne must be publicly released amid concern new laws won’t capture the historic investigations.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – AUGUST 3, 2022. Bruce Barbour, Chairperson of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), answers questions during a Legal Affairs and Safety Committee Estimates hearing at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The Crime and Corruption Commission says it is “inarguable” that reports into former Jackie Trad and Peter Carne must be publicly released amid concern new laws won’t capture the historic investigations.

CCC reports into Ms Trad, the former deputy premier, and Mr Carne, former public trustee, were prevented from being released following a decision by the High Court last year.

Premier Steven Miles said the government would legislate to ensure future reports were made public, but said the legislation would likely not be retrospective.

Mr Barbour told the hearing the “safest response to the decision of the High Court” was to legislate to permit the CCC to continue public reporting.

Former Queensland deputy premier Jackie Trad. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

“That ought to be retrospective to ensure that not only work has been completed … but to ensure there is no legal risk arrising or from the previous work done by the CCC,” he said.

“It is absolutely unarguable that it is in the public interest for the CCC to be able to have robust reporting provisions and to tell the community about our work.”

Mr Miles denied the government had an interest in keeping the report into Ms Trad secret and said he had discussed the issues of releasing retrospective reports with the CCC.

“I’ve met with Bruce Barbour, I’ve discussed this with the CCC, the Attorney (Yvette D’Ath) has been engaging with them consistently,” Mr Miles said.

“We want to see the CCC able to report but we also want them to do that in a way that conforms with what the High Court said in its decision and there’s complex legal matters to be considered there.”

Former Queensland public trustee Peter Carne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Barbour noted proposed law changes to the CCC’s reporting powers were expected, but said the organisation had not received any proposals from the government.

Mr Barbour will meet Ms D’Ath next week.

He revealed the CCC was also locked in confidential legal negotiations relating to the payment of costs in the Ms Trad and Ms Carne matter and insisted he “do not think it’s appropriate” 

He said the legal costs to the CCC for remained at $91,953.