Qld politics: Labor suggests 44 names for Redistribution Commission

Premier David Crisafulli’s right-hand man leads a list of 44 candidates Labor would prefer to review electoral boundaries rather than controversial pick John Sosso. SEE THE LIST

Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Damien Walker

David Crisafulli’s right-hand man has been put forward as a compromise candidate to help redraw electoral boundaries in place of controversial pick John Sosso.

Following rare public concerns raised by corruption buster Tony Fitzgerald about Mr Sosso’s suggested appointment to the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission, Labor has written to Attorney-General Deb Frecklington with dozens of directors-general and CEOs they would accept.

The list of 44 names, seen by The Courier-Mail, includes Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Damien Walker, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy and Integrity Commissioner Linda Waugh.

Mr Walker is one of 14 directors-general suggested by the opposition instead of Mr Sosso.

Legislation enforces the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission be made up of a judge or former judge, the Electoral Commissioner and chief executive of a department or equivalent.

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning director-general Mr Sosso’s links to the LNP raised the ire of Mr Fitzgerald, who said last Saturday he was concerned Queensland “might be reverting to the bad old days of biased electoral boundaries – the notorious Queensland gerrymander”.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles used Mr Fitzgerald’s comments to push for a bipartisan alternative to Mr Sosso.

John Sosso in 2013

“There are many other highly qualified and respected directors-general, commissioners and chief executive-equivalents who could take that position without jeopardising the perceived impartiality of the commission,” he said.

“David Crisafulli has said he would like an independent redistribution commission and his other directors-general and chief executive-equivalents will provide just that for Queensland.”

Mr Fitzgerald previously submitted to Parliament that Mr Sosso had been inserted into the Fitzgerald inquiry by the Bjelke-Petersen government to interfere with the inquiry.

In a statement to Parliament during the Newman government, Mr Fitzgerald said Mr Sosso was susceptible to influence.

Mr Miles also noted Mr Sosso was appointed on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by then Liberal senator George Brandis, and had been thanked by former Liberal senator and LNP powerbroker Santo Santoro for his “unconditional loyalty”.

Mr Sosso was a member of the LNP and helped the party transition to government after its October 26 election win.

The state government maintains Mr Sosso is above reproach, and has criticised the Opposition’s attempts to “besmirch” him.

Mr Sosso’s minister, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, noted the director-general had served as head of the legal and policy division of the Department of Justice and was responsible for crafting the Electoral Act 1992 under then Labor premier Wayne Goss, proving his impartiality.

Labor's suggested alternatives to John Sosso include (top row, from left) Robyn Littlewood, Scott McDougall, Rachel Vagg, Damien Walker, (second row, from left) Alistair Dawson, Catherine Clark, Todd Fuller, Sally Stannard, (third row, from left) Jane Pires, Andrew Hopper, Shayna Smith, Scott Chelepy, and (bottom row, from left) David Mackie, Sharon Schimming, David Rosengren and Linda Waugh.

LABOR’S LIST

Damien Walker, director-general, Department of Premier and Cabinet

David Mackie, Public Sector Commissioner

Peter McKay, director-general, Department of Trade, Employment and Training

Graham Fraine, director-general, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

David Rosengren, director-general, Queensland Health

Bob Gee, director-general, Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support

Sally Stannard, director-general, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Mark Cridland, Department of Housing and Public Works

Belinda Drew, director-general, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety

Joshua Hannan, acting director-general, Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers

Sharon Schimming, director-general, Department of Education

Graeme Bolton, director-general, Department of Primary Industries

Trish O’Callaghan, director-general, Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Natalie Wilde, director-general, Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism

Andrew Hopper, director-general, Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games

Chris Lamont, director-general, Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business

Craig Emery, commissioner, Queensland Ambulance Service

Paul Stewart, commissioner, Queensland Corrective Services

Steve Smith, commissioner, Queensland Fire Department

Shane Chelepy, acting commissioner, Queensland Police Service

Sam Adams, acting CEO, Economic Development Queensland

Chris Derksema, CEO, Gold Coast Waterways

Robyn Littlewood, CEO, Health and Wellbeing Queensland

Linda Waugh, Queensland Integrity Commissioner

Nigel Miller, director of Child Protection Litigation

Jane Pires, Energy and Water Ombudsman and Land Access Ombudsman

Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM, Health Ombudsman

Bronwyn Blagoev, Independent Assessor

Joanne Kummrow, Information Commissioner

Alistair Dawson, Inspector-General of Emergency Management

Shayna Smith, Queensland Public Guardian

Geoff Favel, Queensland Training Ombudsman

Beck O’Connor, Queensland Victims Commissioner

Simon Nicholson, Work Health and Safety Prosecutor

Samay Zhouand, Public Trustee of Queensland

Luke Twyford, Principal Commissioner – Queensland Family and Child Commission

Scott McDougall, Human Rights Commissioner

Ivan Frkovic, Mental Health Commissioner

Catherine Clark, Racing Integrity Commissioner

Jack Ellwood, CEO, Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Robert Djukic, CEO, Resources Safety and Health Queensland

Rachel Vagg, Auditor-General

Todd Fuller, Director of Public Prosecutions

Keith McKenzie, Electrical Safety Commissioner

Originally published as Qld politics: Labor suggests 44 names for Redistribution Commission