Remember when: The Criminal Justice Commission held hearings into alleged Council misconduct

THE first Criminal Justice Commission hearings into alleged official misconduct in councils were closed to the public and held weeks before elections.

Gold Coast History: Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, January 31. Front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Thursday January 31, 1991

THE first Criminal Justice Commission hearings into alleged official misconduct in local government were to be closed to the public and held just five weeks before elections.

Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, January 31. Front page.

It came despite CJC chairman Sir Max Bingham’s public comment that he did not believe the commission could suppress names because it could be accused of a cover-up or whitewash.

Sir Max’s comments came in answer to claims that CJC actions were damaging reputations of people named at a commission inquiry into allegations that prisoners and officers from Brisbane Jail were involved in prostitution and drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, tensions were rising in the Middle East as the world’s super powers gave Iraq an ultimatum to leave Iraq or face force.

The US and Soviet Union told Iraq it could stop the Gulf War by promising to quit Kuwait.

They said such a promise would clear the way for fresh action on the Palestinian issue.

But Washington warned that only a “”massive withdrawal’’ of Iraq from Kuwait could prompt a ceasefire.

The superpower statement came amid fears that Iraq was preparing to launch scud missiles against Turkey.

Iraq had aimed missile launchers at Turkey after having moving them to the border between the countries, Iran’s national news agency IRNA said.

IRNA said Baghdad had also increased defences along the border to repel any surprise attacks from Turkey which had allowed US aircraft to use its bases to raid targets in Iraq.