CCC under hammer as another case fails

Misconduct charges that ended the political career of a longstanding Queensland mayor have been dropped in the latest of at least 21 failed CCC prosecutions.

Former Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Misconduct charges that ended the political career of a longstanding Queensland mayor have been dropped in the latest of at least 21 failed prosecutions brought by the state’s corruption watchdog in the past three years.

Former Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland had been facing two charges brought by the Crime and Corruption Commission for allegedly interfering in planning matters to benefit himself.

Prosecutors dropped the charges in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday before the matter was committed to trial.

It has led to fresh calls for the resignation or sacking of CCC chairman Alan MacSporran, already under pressure after a scathing parliamentary review in December of his organisation’s investigation into seven Logan councillors.

The fate of Mr MacSporran is expected to be debated at a cabinet meeting on Monday.

Mr Sutherland, who was charged in 2019, prompting his suspension as mayor, said the CCC was “out of control” and cabinet’s decision should be an easy one.

“I wouldn’t have thought there’s much of a decision to make, really,” he said. “The CCC has systemic issues and real cultural problems. The state desperately needs a CCC but we need one we can have confidence in.”

He said there were many similarities between his case and the Logan case when it came to poor investigative methods.

Mr Sutherland said the hardest part of the ordeal was telling his elderly parents he was facing criminal charges. His mother died before his name was cleared.

“I don’t think they realise when they throw around charges the impact it has on families, friends and relations, particularly when they pull stunts like charging a couple of days before Christmas,” he said.

“Police are supposed to give a balanced view of the outcomes, not cherrypick evidence.”

The report by the parliamentary crime and corruption committee – which has oversight of the CCC – into the Logan investigation found the CCC and its leader had not acted impartially in the pursuit of the councillors, whose charges were dropped in April after two years.

Mr MacSporran has refused to budge and his organisation issued a statement in December criticising the PCCC inquiry.

Other prominent CCC cases to fall over in recent months include the prosecution of former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli, former Palm Island mayor Alf Lacey and senior police officer Michelle Stenner.

The Local Government Association of Queensland reiterated its calls for Mr MacSporran to resign. “If he will not go, then the state government and parliament must act to remove him,” LGAQ chief executive Alison Smith said.

“The CCC’s role is too important. The reputation of local government has been tarnished – over and over. Queenslanders need to have confidence in the watchdog and confidence cannot be restored until the chair either stands down or is replaced.”

Ms Smith said the latest failed prosecution was “the final straw” and she had written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking that Mr MacSporran be removed from office. “Yet again we have seen a former elected member’s career ended and life ruined after being charged by the CCC, only to have their case again fail. How many more cases launched by the CCC need to fail and how many more lives need to be ruined before something is done?”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles was reluctant to comment on the matter on Thursday but said it was something that should be considered by the PCCC. “These are not decisions made by the executive government,” he said.

“There are processes under way to look at the way the CCC has recommended prosecutions on these kinds of matters and no doubt the Sutherland matter will be considered by the PCCC.”

Opposition integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the Premier needed to take action.