Premier backflips on Coaldrake recommended corruption ‘clearing house’

A “clearing house” for corruption tip-offs and complaints deemed unviable five weeks ago will now be adopted, with the government back on board with the ditched integrity review recommendation.

A “clearing house” for corruption tip-offs and complaints deemed unviable five weeks ago will now be turned into reality, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirming the government was back on board the ditched Coaldrake review recommendation.

It was revealed in early August the clearing house was too expensive to set up, with the government instead choosing a one-stop web form.

But Ms Palaszczuk confirmed upon reflection the government’s chosen solution of a one-stop web form receiving thousands of complaints “in hindsight didn’t meet high (community) expectations.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk Premier of Queensland, at a press conference, Brisbane City, 18th September 2023 – Photo Steve Pohlner

Details on the newly-endorsed structure greenlit in cabinet are scant.

Ms Palaszczuk, speaking after cabinet on Monday, said she wanted a board of people to have oversight of the clearing house to be chaired by an “eminent person” like a retired judge.

And this eminent person would oversee the most complex complaints, working to channel it to the appropriate body to take care of it.

She said she wanted the board and independent chair in place by the end of the year.

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the structure was different to what had previously been put forward by the PSC and the government’s budget review committee will look at the exact costs of putting in place the clearing house.

Opposition integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the government’s “about-face” on a clearing house reeked of a government in chaos.

Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie in August revealed a clearing house would have cost at least $10m to set up and $6m a year to operate.

Peter Coaldrake made a raft of recommendations to the government in al landmark report.

Instead after the option was presented to government a simplified and upgraded one-stop web form that has since had more than 6500 complaints lodged through it had instead been chosen because it was the “best bang for buck”.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Coaldrake review had asked the government to “consider” a clearing house, signalling the PSC may have taken the wording literally.

“I don’t want to get into technicalities but (Coaldrake) said ‘consideration to be given to’, so I think the PSC thought (this meant) you could do it a certain way and rule out other things,” she said.

“Well I’ve said, no, we’re going to implement it.”

In the days immediately after it was revealed the government had ditched the clearing house recommendation the Opposition affirmed it would make it happen if successful in next year’s election.

“How is it Labor spent a year not implementing a Clearing House, decided it wasn’t possible and now suddenly it’s happening again?” Ms Simpson said.

“Having wasted so much time, it is now vital the Government sets a clear timeline for when the Clearing House will actually be implemented.”