CCC: Crime and Corruption Commission goes silent on Cairns council investigation
A corruption watchdog probe has turned a corner with the CCC now refusing to say whether it is still investigating Cairns Regional Council.
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A WATCHDOG probe into Cairns Regional Council is in turmoil after the resignation of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s top boss.
The CCC has refused to answer whether it was still investigating the council – and now its chairman Alan MacSporran has fallen on his sword after weeks of pressure.
The organisation has been looking into council operations with fine-tooth scrutiny for a year, paying special attention to a loan received by Mayor Bob Manning.
When pressed on whether the investigation was still operational, the question went unanswered.
“The CCC declines to comment,” a spokesman said.
Mr MacSporran’s bombshell resignation on Tuesday followed a damning report into the CCC’s handling of an investigation into Logan City Council.
“Many people have urged me to continue in this important role, despite the recent finding contained in the report of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC),” Mr MacSporran said.
“However, I find myself in a position where, despite a career spanning in excess of 40 years, where my honesty and integrity have never been questioned, it is clear to me that the relationship between myself and the PCCC has broken down irretrievably.
“This saddens me deeply.”
The situation leaves the city under the same cloud that has been smothering it since the probe became public.
Council CEO Mica Martin said the local government vigorously supported the need for an integrity watchdog and would continue to fully co-operate with all investigations.
But she, too, was dealing with CCC radio silence.
“In relation to the current investigation, disappointingly we have not heard anything further despite being repeatedly assured it would be resolved by the end of 2021,” she said.
The probe has involved current and former councillors and high-ranking council employees being repeatedly called in for questioning.
Mayor Bob Manning’s house was raided in May, with agents confiscating items including his mobile phone.
And yet, no outcome has been forthcoming.
The CCC has been facing a quagmire of its own.
It last week dropped criminal charges against former Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland.
Mr Sutherland, who was suspended over the matter in December 2019, labelled the CCC “out of control”.
It was the latest in a series of failed prosecutions including the decision last year to drop fraud charges against seven Logan councillors whose suspension led to the entire council’s dismissal.
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith had called for Mr MacSporran to step down.
“In the last financial year, 15 of the 25 cases launched by the CCC were thrown out, with the bulk of those cases involving wrongfully charged local government representatives,” she said.
Whether the CCC’s suddent muteness signals an organisation in limbo or an investigation breakthrough remains to be seen.
Much of its focus was on a $150,000 loan Cr Manning received from prominent lawyer Ranjit Singh trading as Property Law in 2015 – a payable “on demand” loan with no specified repayment date.
At the time, the mayor was facing potential bankruptcy after the collapse of his Events NQ business. Bankruptcy would have made him ineligible to continue as mayor.
There is no indication of wrongdoing by the mayor or Mr Singh and the CCC has not filed any charges.
Mr Singh has worked on some of the city’s biggest developments, including the now-failed $500m Nova City plan to build eight apartment towers in the CBD – which gained traction after the council agreed to sell land to the developer.
Nova City finally flopped late last year with early buyers told would they be refunded.
Sources say much of the CCC’s questioning during interviews related to the project.
Both Cr Manning and Mr Singh have maintained public silence on the investigation and have declined to comment on the latest development in the case.
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Originally published as CCC: Crime and Corruption Commission goes silent on Cairns council investigation
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