LNP vows to ‘unmuzzle’ CCC and release Trad report in full

The LNP has vowed to unshackle the state’s corruption watchdog and release a report into former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in full should it take power after the 2024 state election.

• Editor’s view: Muzzling a risk

The LNP has vowed to unshackle the state’s corruption watchdog and release a report into former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in full should it take power after the 2024 state election

The major win for transparency comes as Premier Steven Miles declared the state government stood by all 16 recommendations of a major report into the Crime and Corruption Commission’s powers — including a ban on criticising MPs if they haven’t been found guilty of a corruption offence.

But there are fears this could significantly curtail the CCC’s ability to “tell it like it is” and in turn diminish the watchdog’s ability to deter bad behaviour among the state’s most powerful.

The 463-page report by former Chief Justice Catherine Holmes recommended changes to how the CCC makes public statements, including a ban on critical commentary or expression of opinion about the conduct of an elected official if they had not been found guilty of a related offence.

The LNP have vowed to release the report into Jackie Trad if elected in October. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Neither Ms Trad nor Mr Carne have been accused of wrongdoing.

Mr Miles has affirmed the state government will introduce law changes “as a matter of priority” but refused to provide his view on whether the CCC should be barred from making critical commentary on individual acts deemed a corruption risk.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has insisted the ban won’t take away from the CCC and instead the recommendation would serve to protect individuals from “significant reputational damage and personal hardship”.

But Opposition justice spokesman Tim Nicholls warned there was a “real danger” the new rules would “act to sanitise any report so that it in effect becomes meaningless”.

Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie vowed the LNP would arm the CCC with retrospective reporting powers that don’t muzzle them from being critical of elected representatives if the government didn’t do it now.

“If the Labor Party don’t support (the LNP’s bill) in parliament, and we don’t have the Trad report released before the election, then that bill will be reintroduced to the parliament and we will release the Jackie Trad report,” he said.

Transparency International Chair and Griffith University law professor AJ Brown said the Holmes review into the CCC provided significant answers on how to balance the ability of the watchdog to investigate against procedural fairness and natural justice.

But barring critical commentary could in practice set the bar so high for the CCC to report it makes it ineffective.

Leader of the LNP David Crisafulli. Picture: David Clark.

“There is a real risk of the CCC being prevented from being able to tell it like it is in the way that it needs to tell it, in a timely way or because there hasn’t been a final legal finding of guilt,” he said.

“(The recommendation) unfortunately overlooks the reality that very often it’s the risk of the CCC being able to report publicly on matters that forces action to be taken.”

Former Queensland Attorney-General Matt Foley disagreed the CCC should be able to criticise politicians.

“It should not trespass on the proper role of the courts which protect the liberty of the individual person in a free society,” he said.

Mr Foley said the CCC was a “necessary evil to combat corruption” but should not substitute the courts.

“The clamour to give the CCC power to name and shame individuals without a fair trial is based on a misunderstanding,” he said.

“The urge to do so by retrospective legislation is abhorrent to justice.”

Originally published as LNP vows to ‘unmuzzle’ CCC and release Trad report in full