Qld integrity crisis: Three latest players in Govt’s scandal

Previous Labor government figures and a Brisbane surgeon have become entangled in Queensland’s integrity scandal.

A minister in a previous state Labor government, a Brisbane surgeon and the Premier’s former right-hand man have become entangled in the Queensland Government integrity scandal.

Documents not previously released show a committee headed by former treasurer David Hamill took the extraordinary step of urging the government not to interfere in the office of Mike Summerell, the ousted state archivist who was concerned about alleged wrongdoing by Labor ministers.

Dr Hamill defended Mr Summerell in his role as chair of the Public Records Review Committee, set up to ensure trust in official records keeping.

“The committee urges the minister to reaffirm the independence of the State Archivist and clarify the powers, duties, and responsibilities of that office,” Dr Hamill wrote to Works and Housing Minister Mick de Brenni in March 2018.

Documents released to Member for Burleigh Michael Hart under Right to Information show Mr Summerell sought advice from Mr Hamill’s committee because his attempts to probe misconduct had been blocked.

Former treasurer David Hamill

The RTI correspondence exposes the lengthy battle Mr Summerell undertook to be granted vital legal advice recommended by the committee.

Mr Summerell wanted advice about matters including the conduct of investigations, the content of the State Archivist’s Annual Report, the administration of the Public Records Act 2002 and the State Archivist’s statutory functions.

He referred to two separate inquiries, The Sunday Mail can reveal.

The first concerned documents relating to the missing resignation letter of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s former chief of staff David Barbagallo, the director of a firm that obtained $267,000 from a government fund.

A CCC investigation found he had not misused his position to obtain the funding.

The second concerned complaints to Ms Palaszczuk by Yeronga doctor Shaun McCrystal about wrongdoing in the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.

It was alleged the QBCC failed to intervene after Dr McCrystal warned a unit block next to his home was a fire risk because it was being built too close.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s former chief of staff David Barbagallo

He told the Premier the QBCC not only failed its watchdog role but blocked his efforts to seek the truth.

Mr Summerell agreed, referring the matter to the CCC after files went missing.

RTI documents show Mr Summerell complained in May 2020 that he had been unable to conclude his investigations into the Barbagallo and QBCC matters because he was unable to get Crown law “to investigate potential breaches”.

That RTI material obtained by Mr Hart was heavily redacted. Mr Hart demanded full disclosure, accusing the State Government of a cover-up.

“The new disclosures confirm the need for a royal commission,” he said.

The Sunday Mail can reveal the documents included Mr Summerell’s report into his investigation of Mark Bailey’s use of a private email account, and a letter from Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov in which she raised alarm about government interference.

The CCC in 2017 indicated it did not identify any evidence to support allegations Mr Bailey had used his personal email to engage in corrupt conduct as defined in the Crime and Corruption Act 2001.

Yeronga resident Shaun McCrystal