Qld integrity crisis: CCC interim bosses denies commission powers

The Opposition has seized on comments by the CCC acting chair that refute claims by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about its capacity for an integrity probe.

Queensland’s corruption watchdog says it has neither the remit nor the resources for any broadscale investigation of state government integrity.

Acting chair Bruce Barbour has spoken for the first time about the Crime and Corruption Commission’s powers and interest in State Government integrity allegations, saying probing such issues was not its job, which was targeting serious crime and specific instances of corruption.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said the comments made a mockery of government claims it didn’t need a royal-commission-style inquiry into the integrity issues plaguing it because the CCC have the powers of a standing royal commission and could investigate any complaints.

“The commission has a broad remit, but that remit is in relation to reducing the incidence of crime, serious crime, and also corruption within Queensland,” Mr Barbour told a hearing of the parliamentary crime and corruption committee.

“It doesn’t have a general or broad remit to do wide-ranging inquiries that may be worthwhile or of interest, but are not within the jurisdiction of the CCC … (and) any inquiry … would need to be within the terms of our jurisdiction.”

He said the CCC’s budget would not be able to fund any such inquiry and, should it be asked to undertake an inquiry, the Government would need to provide the funds to do so.

Mr Barbour said he was watching the Coaldrake review and was interested in “whether he makes any recommendations along those lines” of the need for a further inquiry.

Mr Bleijie said it was clear the Premier was the only person who could put into action the kind of in-depth inquiry needed to get to the heart of systemic integrity issues.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s excuse that the Crime and Corruption Commission is a standing royal commission is dead in the water,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CCC has finished its probe into the laptop saga involving a Public Service Commission raid on the office of Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov, but it will not be published for several weeks.

Mr Barbour also revealed there was a second matter related to alleged bullying in relation to connected matters being undertaken by the PSC, but did not give details.

He confirmed Dr Stepanov was not the subject of those allegations or any of its investigations.

He also announced a CCC public discussion paper would soon be released “that will put forward for commentary and for feedback a range of issues” relating to lobbying practices.