Premier Steven Miles pushed to act on new integrity laws
The Opposition has thrown down the gauntlet to new Premier Steven Miles to quickly act on one of Queensland’s most “complex” issues.
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Legal advice about how Crime and Corruption Commission reports could again be made public has been handed to the government three months after the watchdog was silenced by the High Court.
The CCC had been fighting to have reports from separate investigations into former Public Trustee Peter Carne and former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad released publicly through the Queensland parliament.
The High Court ruled the watchdog’s report on its probe of Mr Carne – who was investigated for corruption in 2018 and cleared – could not be released publicly.
That ruling prompted the Queensland Supreme Court to dismiss a matter between the CCC and Ms Trad – who was fighting to stop the watchdog publishing a separate report on its investigation into her involvement in the recruitment process of a treasury official.
CCC chair Bruce Barbour immediately called for “urgent legislative amendments” and said its inability to report on matters “reduces transparency and is clearly not in the public interest”.
The state government has repeatedly said it was considering the matter and has now revealed legal advice had been received.
A spokesman for Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath insisted the government was committed to “finding a path through what is a complex legal issue”.
“The CCC chair has said the government needs to consider these matters in a considered and careful way, as it’s not as simple as the initial review of the decision would suggest,” he said.
“The Attorney-General has received legal advice, has met with the CCC chair and will continue to give this matter the careful consideration that is required and expected.”
Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls has introduced a Bill he said was designed “to remedy the deficiency in the reporting powers” of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001.
Mr Nicholls argued his Bill was doing what the government should have done immediately after the High Court decision was delivered in September.
“This is a serious integrity issue, and Steven Miles must give it the critical priority it deserves,” he said.
“Any delay will be a clear signal Steven Miles is no different from Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“If Steven Miles doesn’t pass these laws at the first possible opportunity, it will be clear he has the wrong priorities and doesn’t believe in openness and transparency.”
When the Bill will be debated in parliament will depend on when the committee considers it and when the government brings it before the house.
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