Corruption body ‘should seek legal advice before laying charges’

CRIME and Corruption Commission officers will be forced to seek independent legal advice before laying charges and face external oversight as part of widespread reforms to curb the “risks” of the watchdog mishandling matters.

Eminent corruption-buster Tony Fitzgerald and retired Supreme Court judge Alan Wilson have released their long-awaited 225-page report into the CCC – listing 32 recommendations designed to improve public trust in the watchdog.

The inquiry was launched in January after a parliamentary committee raised serious concerns about the CCC’s handling of its investigation into Logan councillors.

A spate of failed prosecutions followed charges against local government figures, which saw both the Logan and Ipswich councils dismissed.

Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Wilson said the use of seconded police officers within the CCC “carried risks that manifested in the Logan Council matter” – and have recommended a suite of reforms to ensure charges are not wrongly laid.

“The CCC lacks, in our view, both internal and external checks and balances that appropriately addressed these risks,” the commissioners noted. “We have concluded that seconded police officers remain a valuable asset in the CCC’s work but their skills and experience do not entirely meet the requirements of the CCC’s corruption investigations.”

The commissioners have recommended the Palaszczuk government amend legislation so CCC officers undertaking a corruption investigation “must seek the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning whether a charge may properly be brought”.

It also recommends improved oversight of corruption investigations and training of officers.

The review also calls for the CCC’s corruption division to be transitioned to a “predominantly civilianised model” and retain a seconded police officers required at and below director level to ensure effective and efficient investigations.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had an hour to look at the report before its release and, on the face of it, there were no recommendations that the government wouldn’t accept – with the report to go to cabinet on Monday.

There were 87 submissions lodged with the inquiry from stakeholders including integrity agencies, police, legal minds, academics, unions, local governments and the public.