More than 87 submissions to Commission of Inquiry into the CCC still not public

More than 87 submissions to the Commission of Inquiry into the state’s corruption watchdog headed up by Tony Fitzgerald have been received but have not been made public a week before the bombshell report is expected to drop.

An inquiry into the state’s corruption watchdog has received more than 87 submissions, with the eminent Tony Fitzgerald expected to deliver a bombshell report on the workings of the Crime and Corruption Commission next week.

But six months after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $5.4m Commission of Inquiry into the CCC, no submissions have been published on the Commission’s website, with the Commission also not publishing an interim report.

The review of the CCC was announced by the Premier following a string of failed prosecutions by the CCC, including against a number of Logan City councillors, which ultimately led to the departure of CCC boss Alan MacSporran.

The recruitment of the renowned Mr Fitzgerald, alongside retired Supreme Court judge Alan Wilson, to lead the review of the CCC was spruiked by the government and was seen as significant, with the Premier saying at the time “who better than Tony Fitzgerald to conduct it? (the review).”

Although the Commission of Inquiry into the CCC has not made any of the submissions publicly available, The Courier-Mail can reveal it has received at least 87 submissions, including at least 50 public submissions, and 37 targeted submissions.

Former Federal Court judge and Anti-Corruption Commissioner Tony Fitzgerald QC.

Queensland’s new Solicitor-General Gim Del Villar is also working on the Commission.

Mr Fitzgerald‘s historic inquiry uncovered systematic corruption in Queensland following reporting by The Courier-Mail in the late 1980s’, and led to the establishment of the Criminal Justice Commission, which later become the CCC.

The Commission has recruited some of the state’s top legal minds to work on the inquiry, including Gim Del Villar QC who, since the announcement, has been appointed as Queensland’s new Solicitor-General.

Mr Del Villar was appointed as a counsel assisting, alongside Angus Scott.

Brigita Cunnington, who has held multiple legal positions including as executive director of the Magistrates Courts Service and the head of the Queensland’s Coroner’s Court, is the inquiry's executive director.

Carolyn McAnally, a renowned legal professional with a long career in criminal law, has been named as director, while crown prosecutor James Marxson is the inquiry’s principal legal officer.

Mr Del Villar began his new role on July 25, with a spokeswoman saying his legal work (had) been completed before his commencement date.

In late January when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Wilson would head a Commission of Inquiry into the CCC following a recommendation of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee, she said it was clear a review was needed.

“To do its job, the public must have absolute confidence in the CCC and this Commission of Inquiry,” Ms Palaszczuk said at the time.

“No-one can argue about Tony Fitzgerald’s independence.”