Inquiry to probe links between CCC’s MacSporran and ex-Logan CEO Kelsey

An inquiry into the way the Crime and Corruption Commission handled charging eight Logan councillors will include questions about its relationship with Logan council’s former CEO.

An inquiry into the way the Crime and Corruption Commission handled charging eight Logan City councillors will include questions about the relationship between the council’s former CEO, CCC staff and a law firm.

Terms of reference for the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee inquiry into the CCC were released on Wednesday.

A focus will be on CCC evidence, submissions and other documents provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The probe will also delve into the CCC’s interaction with former councillors, the Logan City Council former CEO Sharon Kelsey and council officers.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said “dynamite” supplementary evidence his organisation handed to the PCCC last week triggered the inquiry, expected to be wrapped up by December.

He also called for CCC chairman Alan MacSporran to step down while the inquiry was taking place.

Mr Hallam said one area of interest would be CCC chairman Alan MacSporran’s relationship with Ms Kelsey and the law firm Minter Ellison.

“Our supplementary submission to the PCCC goes to the truthfulness of evidence given on May 14,” Ms Hallam said.

“Our second submission was the headturner and was the basis on which the government said they have to have a specific inquiry into Logan and MacSporran.”

Coomera MP Michael Crandon started that line of questioning at the PCCC last month when he asked Mr MacSporran if anyone within the ranks of the CCC had a close relationship or friendship with Ms Kelsey, during a PCCC meeting.

Mr MacSporran said nobody at the CCC had known Ms Kelsey before she started her legal action in the industrial court.

The PCCC inquiry into Logan councillors will also include questions about the CCC’s use of coercive powers, the process by which the CCC charges people and refers matters to the Director of Prosecutions.

TIMELINE

June 27, 2017: Sharon Kelsey starts work as CEO of Logan City Council

August 7, 2017: Ms Kelsey’s first contact with the CCC

September 11, 2017: Darren Power knew of Ms Kelsey’s involvement with CCC

October 10, 2017: First 90-day probationary review of Ms Kelsey’s performance

October 12, 2017: Public Interest Disclosure served on Logan councillors

November 29, 2017: CCC emails Ms Kelsey about serving a warrant on council

December 4, 2017: Warrant served and CCC at the council

January 5, 2018: councillors advised to check Ms Kelsey’s past employment

February 5, 2018: CCC sends warning letter to all councillors

February 7, 2018: Councillors receive legal advice not to consider the PID when deciding on Ms Kelsey’s continued employment.

February 7, 2018: Logan council votes 7 to 5 not to extend Ms Kelsey’s employment past probation

July 10, 2018: CCC informed councillors of Luke Smith investigation

August 6, 2018: Ms Kelsey meets MacSporran to ask if there was funding for her QIRC legal fees to be covered by an ex-gratia payment

August 7, 2018: Mr MacSporran delivers a letter to Minister Stirling Hinchliffe requesting ex-gratia payment of Ms Kelsey’s legal fees

November 18, 2018: CCC informs councillors of Luke Smith investigation

November: A reinstatement application is made.

December 2018: 15 days of QIRC hearings finish of February 15, 2019 to be resumed later

April 26, 2019: Eight councillors charged with a criminal offence days before final QIRC submissions

May 6, 2019: council dismissed and an administrator appointed

April 2020: new council elected

November 30, 2020: first of nine days of committal hearing

April 16, 2021: QIRC dismisses Ms Kelsey’s reinstatement application. Dismissal order suppressed

April 18, 2021: DPP withdraws all charges

April: QIRC finding made public

May 28, 2021: Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee resolves to investigate issues raised by Local Government Association of Queensland