Qld politics: Sam O’Connor latest minister to defend John Sosso appointment

A fourth Queensland minister has downplayed the concerns of legendary corruption investigator Tony Fitzgerald about a new appointment to review electoral boundaries.

Housing, Public Works and Youth Minister Sam O'Connor

A fourth Queensland minister has downplayed the concerns of legendary corruption investigator Tony Fitzgerald about the government’s push to appoint director-general John Sosso to redraw electoral boundaries.

The rare public intervention from Mr Fitzgerald sent a shockwave through Queensland’s political system on Saturday, when he warned Queensland “might be reverting to the bad old days of biased electoral boundaries”.

His comment came after the state government recommended Mr Sosso, who has previous links to the LNP, be appointed to the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission.

Mr Fitzgerald’s concern was not shared by Housing and Youth Minister Sam O’Connor, who on Monday became the fourth minister – after Premier David Crisafulli, deputy Jarrod Bleijie and Attorney-General Deb Frecklington – to back Mr Sosso.

“Look, this is a matter that the deputy and the Premier have well and truly canvassed,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Mr Sosso is a public servant who has served both sides of politics at multiple levels of government and his reputation and his standing is beyond reproach.

“And that’s been certainly addressed by the Deputy Premier and that’s all I’d have to say.”

John Sosso in 2013

Asked if he valued Mr Fitzgerald’s opinion, Mr O’Connor said Mr Sosso had served both sides of politics throughout his career.

“He’s absolutely an appropriate person to be the director-general of the second most significant department in this government,” Mr O’Connor said.

Mr Bleijie said Mr Sosso was above reproach and Queenslanders should be unconcerned with his past LNP affiliations.

“You’re talking about events 45 years ago,” he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick colourfully called it “just Susso”, while Opposition Leader Steven Miles said, “This is much more than politics, this is about the nature of our democracy.”

He said Mr Sosso also applied to become a member of the Labor Party in 1972.

Mr Sosso was a solicitor who first joined the Department of Justice in 1984 during the Bjelke-Petersen government, but remained as a public servant during the Wayne Goss government.

He served as deputy director-general in Nationals Premier Rob Borbidge’s Department of Premier and Cabinet from 1996 to 1998.

He also served as Department of Justice director-general during the Newman government.

Originally published as Qld politics: Sam O’Connor latest minister to defend John Sosso appointment