Remember when: the CJC head revealed it had been intimated by MPs during rort investigation

THE Criminal Justice Commission was intimidated and threatened by state MPs during its year-long investigation into travel allowances, said its chairman, Sir Max Bingham.

Gold Coast History: Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, December 6. Front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday December 6, 1991

THE Criminal Justice Commission was intimidated and threatened by state MPs during its year-long investigation into travel allowances, said its chairman, Sir Max Bingham.

“There were intimidations and threats from George Street in a number of subtle and not-so-subtle ways,” he told a news conference.

Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, December 6. Front page.

Sir Max said he had been “saddened, but not surprised”, that the commission had to look into travel entitlements, an extremely sensitive matter that had led politicians to use such tactics to intimidate investigators.

It was reported that some politicians had refused to co-operate initially or claimed they had destroyed documentation after losing office or destroyed it after moving from opposition to government in 1989.

“But we have no real evidence of destruction of a paper trail because I don’t think there was a proper trail in the first place,’’ he said.

“They did not keep records, diaries, notes of who was seen or spoken to and most did not know the details of where they had been or what they had done.”

However, Sir Max said state MPs and former politicians who had abused travel entitlements would not be prosecuted because “Queensland has seen enough blood in the city square,’’

The travel rort affair would ultimately claim several scalps including former premier Russell Cooper who resigned as opposition leader.

Both Police Minister Terry Mackenroth and Health Minister Ken McElligott exited Premier Wayne Goss’ cabinet after it was revealed they were among at least five Labor MPs who misused travel entitlements when in opposition.