Miles commits to new Crime and Corruption Commission laws but may not release Jackie Trad report

Queensland’s corruption watchdog reports about Labor identities Jackie Trad and Peter Carne could remain secret under new laws committed to by Premier Steven Miles.

Former Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad. Picture: AAP

Investigative reports by Queensland’s corruption watchdog into Labor identities Jackie Trad and Peter Carne could remain secret under new laws committed to by Premier Steven Miles.

The Crime and Corruption Commission last year demanded urgent law changes to allow it to continue to publish major reports after a High Court decision muzzled the watchdog from publicly reporting on most of its investigations into ­politicians and public servants.

CCC chair Bruce Barbour has previously said law changes must be retrospective to allow for the release of its reports into former deputy premier Ms Trad and former public trustee Mr Carne and “potentially other elements that we would like to also raise publicly”.

He also said the CCC should be able to release investigation findings even if corrupt conduct is not found.

“We believe such reports serve the public interest and promote public confidence in the integrity of the public sector,” he said.

Mr Miles on Wednesday committed to changing laws to expand the CCC’s reporting powers, but cast doubt over whether legislation would be retrospective.

“This is a complex matter, we have the CCC’s view, we have what the High Court said, we have legal advice and interjurisdictional comparisons and so we are working through those,” he said.

“We want to make sure that (the CCC) have the powers to do their job but we also want to make sure that our laws respect the human rights of individuals and respect the outcome of the High Court.”

The Trad report, finalised in early 2021, stemmed from an investigation into the 2019 appointment of her under treasurer, Frankie Carroll, but was widened into a probe of recruitment across the ­bureaucracy since Labor came to power in 2015.

It is understood the report did not recommend any charges against Ms Trad, who has denied wrongdoing, but was scathing about the politicisation of senior ranks of the public service.

A separate report into Mr Carne, the former law partner of late premier Wayne Goss, was suppressed by the High Court decision in September.

Mr Carne resigned as public trustee in 2020 after he was issued a show-cause notice asking why he should not be sacked for ­serious allegations including being intoxicated at work, absent without leave, conflicts of interest and bullying of staff.

The CCC did not pursue any criminal charges against Mr Carne, but compiled a report into alleged misconduct and sent it to its parliamentary oversight committee.

If reports into Ms Trad and Mr Carne had been tabled in parliament, they would have been protected by parliamentary privilege and therefore immune to legal challenge, including for defamation.

The Liberal National Party last year introduced legislation which would force the release of reports into Ms Trad and Mr Carne. The draft laws, which are being considered by a parliamentary committee, will not pass without Labor support.

LNP leader David Crisafulli said laws must be retrospective because Queenslanders deserved to see what was in the reports.

“There is no justification for this report, which belongs to Queenslanders, to be kept under lock and key other than a government that is running a protection racket for its friends and its survival.”