Premier’s Crime and Corruption Commission review ‘not needed’

The boss of Queensland’s corruption watchdog says he “didn’t see the need” for the state government’s highly-publicised review into the reporting powers of the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The boss of Queensland’s corruption watchdog says he “didn’t see the need” for the state government’s highly-publicised review into the reporting powers of the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Speaking at a hearing on a private member’s bill put forward by the LNP’s Tim Nicholls – which would allow secret corruption investigations to be made public – CCC chair Bruce Barbour said he believed the issues were “very clear cut”.

“To be perfectly frank, I didn’t see the need for a review,” he said.

“There’s significant common practice among all jurisdictions, there’s a lot of legislation out there – the principles that underpin this are very clear.”

Premier Steven Miles announced last month a three-month independent review – led by former Chief Justice of Queensland Catherine Holmes – into the CCC’s reporting powers, following the High Court’s decision last September to dismiss an appeal by the CCC to make a report into former Public Trustee Peter Carne public.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles. Picture: David Clark.

Following the precedent-setting High Court ruling, a Supreme Court decision found a report into Deputy Premier Jackie Trad – regarding allegations she had improperly interfered in the appointment of Frankie Carroll as her under-treasurer – would also remain secret.

Both Mr Carne and Ms Trad have denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Miles said last month the government “acknowledged the need to legislate new reporting powers for the CCC, while also recognising that publishing reports relating to individual corruption matters raises complex legal, ethical and human rights issues”.

“Another reform to the CCC the government has been carefully considering is to what extent they should be able to publicly report their investigations,” the Premier said.

“Finding the right balance between allowing the CCC to do their job while also protecting the human rights of individuals is important.”

Mr Nicholls’s private members bill, introduced last October shortly after the High Court decision, seeks to confirm the power of the CCC to release reports into corruption investigations.

Former MP Jackie Trad.

“The integrity watchdog’s admission a review wasn’t necessary, and the Government should have acted to avoid corruption risk, should send shivers down the spine of Queenslanders,” he said.

“Our state’s integrity has been hijacked by a Premier who is trying to use the CCC as his own political plaything, instead of acting in the best interest of Queenslanders.

“The LNP’s CCC Bill addresses this key integrity issue, it is only political obstinance and a deliberate attempt to block the release of the Jackie Trad report, preventing Steven Miles from acting.”

The bill would also be retrospective – meaning both the Carne and Trad reports could be released.

Mr Barbour also said he was not involved in drafting the terms of reference of the review, but that the CCC would be fully cooperative.

Asked whether he believed the review was a way of stopping certain high-profile CCC reports being made public – such as the Carne and Trad reports – he said “I don’t hold any views in that regard”.

“I see no reason to believe that this review is not a genuine effort,” he said.

“I think the person conducting the review is eminent and beyond reproach and I see no risk in relation to that.”

Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls.