Pressure on Premier to make call on MacSporran

Annastacia Palaszczuk has repeatedly refused to say whether she supports embattled CCC boss Alan MacSporran as his organisation faces accusations of serious failings.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has failed to declare confidence in the embattled boss of Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission as calls grow for Alan MacSporran to resign in the wake of a serious failings within his corruption watchdog.

Mr MacSporran is facing mounting pressure to resign after an investigation by the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee – a group of MPs responsible for oversight of the CCC - found serious failures in its operations.

Committee chair Jon Krause MP, who on Thursday revealed he’d been warned of “consequences” in probing the CCC, on Friday declined to elaborate.

It is understood several people familiar with the operations of the CCC issued caution to Mr Krause, while the CCC said it had no further details and did not receive a complaint.

Under Queensland’s Criminal Code any attempt to prevent an MP from undertaking their responsibilities could face up to 14 years in jail.

CCC Chairperson

The Premier on Friday insisted she needed to read the 175-page report, which recommended the powers of the corruption watchdog be probed further through a commission of inquiry.

“That report is a very serious report and government needs to give that serious consideration,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk repeatedly refused to say whether she supported Mr MacSporran.

“I have confidence in having an anti-corruption watchdog in this state,” she said.

Following a six-month review into the conduct of the CCC, the PCCC found the watchdog operated outside the limits of its powers and “failed to act independently and impartially” when it charged seven Logan councillors with fraud in 2018 – charges which were dropped in April.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli accused Ms Palaszczuk of “trying to buy time” in making a decision and declared Mr MacSporran’s position was untenable.

“The report is damning … it casts a cloud over what is the most important crime fighting body that we have,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I think the position is untenable.

“This report makes for sobering reading and it shows that change must occur, both in personnel and in culture.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli reacts during question time at Queensland Parliament House. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Mr Krause on Friday said the committee’s role in the matter had “somewhat been finalised”, but he called on Ms Palaszczuk to outline her position on Mr MacSporran’s future.

“If she has confidence she should say so and if she doesn’t she should ask him to go,” he said.

A spokesman for the CCC declined to comment, but on Thursday said Mr MacSporran would continue to lead the organisation.

A motion of no confidence in Mr MacSporran was passed on Friday by the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Policy Executive – a group of mayors and councillors representing the state’s 77 councils.

LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the committee‘s report found serious failings in the way the CCC investigated and charged Logan councillors.

“For the CCC to issue a statement yesterday in defiance of these findings is offensive and concerning,“ Mr Jamieson said.

“It puts the future of this critical watchdog in jeopardy when the chair should at all times be acting to protect its legacy.”

“The local government sector, and indeed the Queensland public, cannot have confidence in the CCC until the chair accepts responsibility for its actions and stands down to allow a new chair to take over, correct the serious misgivings identified by the PCCC, and restore public confidence.”

Originally published as Pressure on Premier to make call on MacSporran