Labor MPs block release of CCC Trad legal action costs

Four Labor MPs acting as a “protection racket” for Jackie Trad have blocked a report the release of a report that the crime watchdog wants made public.

Labor MPs acting as a “protection racket” for Jackie Trad have blocked the release of information revealing how much taxpayer cash the state’s corruption watchdog has spent fighting to release its still-secret report into a bureaucratic appointment made the former deputy premier.

The Crime and Corruption Commission had provided information to its parliamentary oversight committee which detailed how much the organisation spent fighting legal action brought by Ms Trad in the Supreme Court to suppress the report relating to her appointment of under-treasurer Frankie Carroll.

Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Jon Krause on Tuesday moved a motion to release a redacted letter from the CCC which would have detailed the cost of the legal action.

Former deputy premier Jackie Trad. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

But in a stunning display, the committee’s Labor MPs Jonty Bush, Jess Pugh, Corrine McMillan and Ali King used their majority to vote against the release – despite the CCC approving it.

Ms Bush argued the matter was ongoing and, regarding when the legal cost would be released, said “there will be a time … that is not now”.

When approached by reporters at parliament after the PCCC meeting, both Ms King and Ms McMillan declined to answer questions. They insisted they were rostered to sit in the parliamentary chamber.

Jonty Bush, Jess Pugh, Ali King and Corrine McMillan.

A furious LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie said the action of the Labor MPs flew in the face of transparency and declared Ms Trad was “still the puppetmaster” of many members. “I would encourage Labor Party members not to continue the protection racket on Jackie Trad,” he said.

The former deputy premier, who lost her seat of South Brisbane to the Greens at the 2020 election, was contacted for comment. Ms Trad’s legal action is being funded by taxpayers under legal indemnity guidelines available to former ministers but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said the cost of that can’t be released because it has not yet been calculated.

A separate letter from the CCC, which included redacted sections, was also blocked from release, with Labor MPs noting it mentioned Ms Trad and claimed it could affect ongoing matters. Mr Krause and Mr Bleijie questioned why the Labor MPs had concerns about releasing the letter despite the CCC being comfortable with its publication.

Mr Carroll‘s appointment was referred to the CCC in May 2020 by the LNP after it was contacted by a whistleblower who alleged Ms Trad had interfered in the independent recruitment process, which had actually chosen another candidate.