‘My family’s life has been torn apart’: ex-Logan councillor speaks to parliamentary committee looking to overhaul CCC legislation

A parliamentary committee looking into new laws to improve the performance of the state’s crime and corruption watchdog has heard devastating stories from three ex-Logan councillors.

Ex-Logan City councillors from left, Laurie Smith, Trevina Schwarz and Phil Pidgeon address a parliamentary committee looking into changing legislation governing the powers of the CCC.

Three former Logan City councillors, sacked before charges of fraud were dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions, have given heart-rending evidence to a parliamentary committee looking into new laws to improve the performance of the state’s crime watchdog.

Former Logan councillors Phil Pidgeon, Laurie Smith and Trevina Schwarz told parliament’s Community Safety and Legal Affairs committee how their lives changed irreparably after officers from the state’s crime and corruption watchdog charged them with fraud, with the charges dropped two years later.

The trio was asked to address the committee, which has been assigned to carry out a detailed consideration of the Crime and Corruption and Other Legislation Amendment Bill, introduced to parliament last month.

They told the public committee hearing they wanted to see the powerful post of Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) chair only held by a retired judge, they called for the legislation to cover more than “corruption” charges and advocated for fixed terms for CCC officers and senior commission members.

Committee chairman Toohey MP Peter Russo told the committee that the overarching objective of the Bill was to improve the operation and performance of the CCC, with legislative amendments, principally to the Crime and Corruption Act.

The councillors were speaking after the committee was addressed by CCC Chair Bruce Barbour and members of the Queensland Law Society.

The parliamentary committee chaired by Peter Russo, centre, listened to the three ex-Logan councillors.

The councillors challenged Mr Barbour as he left the parliamentary hearing and asked him when they would receive an apology but no response was given.

Mr Pidgeon said the laws should be amended to prevent the crime watchdog from having “unfettered” powers and from bypassing judicial processes.

He said wording of the proposed legislation had “major flaws” and suggested it be tightened to encompass more than “corruption investigations” and would also apply to other types of charges including fraud.

“The unchecked power resulted in numerous innocent people being the target of malicious witch hunts,” he told the public committee.

“My family’s lives have been torn apart and changed forever by the CCC’s malfeasance that still has not seen anybody in the CCC brought to account — not a single person.

“Five years after the CCC started the witch hunt on the Logan councillors and three years after we were exonerated, seven innocent people and their families are still waiting for justice.

“I believe that unless stronger mechanisms are put in place, the CCC will continue to attempt to find every possible loophole in this Bill and other legislation, to manipulate the processes for its own end.

“I do not have any confidence that the CCC will mend its ways particularly if it has its eye on getting a scalp.

“I plead with the committee to please help get this right so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else”

Former Logan councillor Laurie Smith said the powerful position of CCC chairman should only be held by a retired judge and called for penalties for frivolous and vexatious complaints.

He also called for the new Police Commissioner to launch an internal inquiry into the Logan City Council investigation.

He told the committee how being charged with fraud and sacked from the job he loved took a devastating toll on his mental health and his financial income and resulted in the end of his political career.

Ex-Logan councillors Phil Pidgeon, Trevina Schwarz and Laurie Smith told a parliamentary committee hearing how their lives were destroyed.

“I had my reputation and good standing within my local community destroyed,” he said.

“The investigation — or lack of (in my case) —, highlighted that even the CCC could act in a biased manner and act on a personal belief rather than cold, hard facts or actual reality.

“In my opinion, it is necessary to ensure that investigations are unbiased, impartial and professionally pursued and allegations are rigorously investigated, verified or disallowed if they do not provide plausible evidence.

“I suggest a peer review panel to act as an oversight on all investigations and the appointment of a retired judge to assess the merits of each case before it is handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions for processing.

“Two months short of five years and nobody has been held accountable for what was maliciously done to us by employees of the state.”

Ms Schwarz, who held various roles while a Logan councillor including as treasurer, said terms on the CCC board should be limited to five years with officers unable to reapply until after a leave of absence.

“I believe that the CCC, including its culture, has lost its way which has had an immense cost on people’s lives both financially and psychologically.

“I believe the Logan case may be positioned as the most significant travesty of justice served by the CCC.

“I welcome amendments to the legislation and the requirement of the inclusion of the Director of Public Prosecutions into the CCC legislation.”

The committee is due to table its report on Friday April 5.

Once the committee’s report has been tabled, the state has three months to respond to the report’s recommendations, if there are any.

Originally published as ‘My family’s life has been torn apart’: ex-Logan councillor speaks to parliamentary committee looking to overhaul CCC legislation