PCCC reveals cost of probe into CCC’s handling of Logan council crisis

A parliamentary committee’s annual report reveals the legal fees taxpayers were slugged for in its review of the corruption watchdog.

The damning probe into Queensland’s corruption watchdog that ultimately sparked the “Fitzgerald 2.0” inquiry cost taxpayers over $300,000 in legal fees, a new report has revealed.

The parliamentary crime and corruption committee’s annual report, released on Tuesday, revealed legal fees made up $319,100 (or 44 per cent) of its running costs for the 2021-22 financial year.

It is understood the bulk of the PCCC’s legal costs were for its inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission’s handling of an investigation into Logan City Council.

The CCC, in its latest annual report, noted it had racked up $1.04m in legal costs in the 2021-22 financial year — much higher than previous years receipts of between $384,000 and $477,000.

The PCCC report found serious failings in the watchdog’s handling of an investigation into Logan City Council and recommended a royal commission-style review of the CCC to be headed by “senior counsel of sufficient standing”.

Tony Fitzgerald presents his report to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Corruption-busting legend Tony Fitzgerald was recalled from retirement in February to chair the review, with the final report in August making 32 recommendations to improve public trusts in the CCC.

This included calling for the government to amend legislation so CCC officers undertaking a corruption investigation “must seek the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning whether a charge may properly be brought”.

And also for the CCC’s corruption division to be transitioned to a “predominantly civilianised model”.

The CCC is due to appear in front of the PCCC for a regular public meeting on November 3, where it is expected the watchdog will note its progress in implementing the recommendations.

CCC chair Bruce Barbour, in the latest annual report, described the PCCC and Fitzgerald reviews as “events of enormous significance”.

“We cannot do our job without their confidence, and we take our accountability to them through the Parliamentary Committee process very seriously,” he said.