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Queensland Parliament live blog: Report recommends Royal Commission into Crime and Corruption Commission
A report has recommended a Royal Commission be launched into the Crime and Corruption Commission after it was found to have operated outside the limits of its powers in charging Logan councillors with fraud.
A bombshell report has recommended a Royal Commission be launched into the state's Crime and Corruption Commission following damning findings it operated outside the limits of its powers and "failed to act independently and impartially" in charging Logan councillors with fraud.
The damning Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Commission report, released by chair Jon Krause, found the CCC "failed in the role entrusted to it by this parliament".
Mr Krause said the committee recommended a Commission of Inquiry be launched to review the structure and powers of the CCC.
He recommended the powers of the CCC Chair Alan MacSporran be investigated and curbed following the watchdog's bungled handling of the Logan inquiry.
Mr Krause said the committee's investigation found the CCC's charging of Logan councillors with fraud was likely motivated by a desire to assist the dismissal case of CEO Sharon Kelsey.
He said the CCC "acted improperly" by charging the councillors with fraud and "failed in its duty to act at all times independently and impartially".
He said the investigations "painted a picture of remarkable dealings between the CCC and a private firm of lawyers acting for Ms Kelsey".
Mr Krause said Mr Macsporran "did not ensure the CCC acted independently and impartially".
The committee recommended consideration given for the CCC to be forced to obtain independent advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions before laying charges.
Counsel Assisting the Inquiry in October recommended the parliament consider terminating Mr MacSporran's tenure as Chair.
The PCCC report laid out 14 "very serious findings" about the CCC and its actions.
"The committee finds that the CCC has exceeded the specific limits on its powers under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 in the Logan City Council matter and the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 (in regards to assistance within the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission process), and further finds that the CCC Chairperson did not ensure the CCC acted independently and impartially," the report said.
"This inquiry was about that Logan matter."However, the findings and recommendations of the committee should be seen as the starting point to ensuring that events about which the committee makes serious findings are never repeated."
The committee was particularly damning in how the CCC acted in assisting whistleblower and sacked Logan City Council chief executive Sharon Kelsey in her Queensland Industrial Relations Commission case that sought to have her reinstated in the job.
The committee criticised the CCC's actions, including in sharing documents it had obtained under compulsion, and said that breached its duty to act independently and impartially under the Crime and Corruption Act 2001.
It found the material prepared for the consideration of commencing criminal proceedings against the seven councillors and further proceedings against the mayor for fraud in respect to Ms Kelsey were "inadequate".
"The committee finds that the discretion to charge the seven Logan City Councillors and Mayor with fraud was affected by a desire to assist Ms Kelsey," the report reads.
" ... The committee finds that as Chairperson, Mr Alan MacSporran QC, did not ensure that the Crime and Corruption Commission acted, at all times relevant to the matters the subject of the inquiry resolution, independently and impartially."
"That failing is serious and reflects poorly on the Crime and Corruption Commission."
The committee made six recommendations, but rejected a submission by the Council Assisting that they recommend the removal of Mr MacSporran.
Several of them relate to wanting the powers of the CCC reviewed, with the possibility of curbing them.
That included consideration of the CCC's powers to disseminate information obtained by use of their extraordinary powers and whether the CCC should be required to seek the recommendation of the Director of Public Prosecutions or a senior independent legal advisor before laying serious criminal charges.
It also recommended "a review of the CCC's structure in regards to its investigatory and charging functions, and the role of seconded police officers at the CCC, as a Commission of Inquiry or similar, to be headed by senior counsel of sufficient standing to consider this structural basis of the CCC that has its roots in the Fitzgerald inquiry".
The committee also asked the government to review protections afforded to whistleblowers, including the roles of the CCC and others relating to whistleblowers.
Earlier in the day, protesters descended on Queensland Parliament ahead of the final sitting day of the year.
About 50 climate protesters, including Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sri, blocked the gates of the parliamentary annexe at the on-ramp to the Pacific Motorway.
They chanted “we will be back” before dispersing.
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We're done for 2021
Construction staff 'told to keep quiet'
Manager of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie said workers were onsite at the Old Caloundra Watchhouse, the site of a new youth detention centre.
He said consultation about the youth centre was supposed to be ongoing but said construction workers were already completing works.
Mr Bleijie said workers were told to say, if asked, that they were only completing minor works.
He asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk if consultation was "real or fake".
Ms Palaszczuk said the government had allocated $5m in infrastructure funding for the site.
– Hayden Johnson
Flying fox infestation in Townsville
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has asked Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon what the government is doing to support the Townsville City Council in combating the flying fox infestation that river residents are struggling to live with.
Ms Scanlon acknowledged that the species were a nuisance but said the government was working to "get the balance right" between keeping residents happy and protecting the species.
She said the Townsville City Council was provided with funding earlier in the year but she did not believe it had applied for the second round of funding.
"I am more than happy to work with the Townsville City Council, who are ultimately responsible for managing that outbreak."
– Maddy Morwood
A question to the Premier about timber
Opposition MP Tony Perrett noted it had been two years since Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a Timber Advisory Panel would be established to address supply issues, and asked what recommendations have been made to improve supply and lower costs.
Ms Palaszczuk said the pandemic had created significant supply chain issues.
"Because of the pandemic people are renovating and building more homes… and people are coming to Queensland," she said.
She said the Timber Advisory Panel committee was meeting next week.
– Hayden Johnson
Push for far north Queensland school to be expanded
Hill MP Shane Knuth has tabled letters and a petition calling for years 11 and 12 at Herberton State High School in the state's far north to be reinstated.
Education Minister Grace Grace said she would read the letters and look to see whether it would be possible.
"I will be more than happy to have a look at that in a very encouraging way," she said.
Ms Grace said her department was already looking at all schools which offer prep to year 10 to see if they could be expanded.
– Domanii Cameron
"Give the Labor minister a stiffy"
Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates has quizzed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about sexual harassment claims concerning a senior health bureaucrat.
She said that sexual harassment victims told the Opposition that the bureaucrat would regularly encourage them to join the ALP and that the team's main KPI was to "give the Labor minister a stiffy".
The question was ruled out of order and Ms Bates was booted from parliament.
– Maddy Morwood
Questions about 'lost confidence' in forensic lab
Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls questioned the government's call to reopen a coronial inquiry into the death of Shandee Blackburn and asked whether it was a sign the government had "lost confidence" in the state's forensic lab and its role helping law enforcement "to ensure rapists and murders don't walk free?"
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said "no" and then embarked on a "history lesson" about the LNP.
"I find it very interesting the Member for Clayfield asked the question… he was the Treasurer in the Newman Government… they actually slashed the funding to this forensic unit," she said.
"Leader of the Opposition you might want to think about who you give the questions to."
– Hayden Johnson
Grilling continues over senior bureaucrat in Queensland Health
Opposition frontbencher Amanda Camm has again asked about a senior bureaucrat at one of the state's hospital and health services who was at the centre of a bullying investigation for sexually harassing women.
She said the Opposition had been contacted by "many of the women" who had raised concerns.
"They say he (Queensland Health manager) arranged several political photo opportunities at a Queensland hospital during the federal election with then Health Minister Miles and Labor's Petrie candidate," she said.
"These images were used by the candidate to attack the federal government.
"Has the Premier failed to act on this manager because he is a Labor mate?"
The Premier said she found the question offensive and rejected the premise of it "completely and utterly".
– Domanii Cameron
One case on the Gold Coast
Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced one new community case of Covid-19 which was revealed by health authorities late Wednesday.
The case is on the Gold Coast with genomic sequencing yet to determine whether the person has the Omicron variant – although this is considered unlikely.
The Premier said people needed to keep using the check-in app.
Two further cases were detected in hotel quarantine.
More than 11,000 vaccines were administered by Queensland Health on Wednesday.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the case was a wake up call to all of Queensland, but particularly the Gold Coast.
The case had been unknowingly infectious in the community for a number of days.
Ms D'Ath said preliminary advice indicated the case was likely the Delta variant, with health authorities investigating whether it was linked to previous cases.
– Domanii Cameron
No private details revealed here: D'Ath
Buderim MP Brent Mickelberg has asked what action the Health Minister Yvette D'Ath had taken to assist his constituent Wendy, who was suffering with delays to rheumatology services.
Mr Mickelberg said Wendy's case was raised with Ms D'Ath more than one month ago.
Ms D'Ath said she was "more than happy" to follow up with the hospital but said she would not discuss a private matter in parliament.
The Minister said all states were suffering with a "deficit" in health workers and was working with the Commonwealth.
– Hayden Johnson
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