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Miles vows to expand powers of CCC, but still no word on Trad’s application

The Queensland government will expand the corruption watchdog’s reporting powers under new laws, Premier Steven Miles says.

Feb 01, 2024, updated Feb 01, 2024
Jackie Trad has won a court case to keep a corruption watchdog report about her secret. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Jackie Trad has won a court case to keep a corruption watchdog report about her secret. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

However it remains to be seen whether the new powers will allow the Crime and Corruption Commission to publish retrospective reports.

Mr Miles and his predecessor Annastacia Palaszczuk had come under fire from the LNP opposition to release an anti-corruption report involving former deputy premier Jackie Trad.

Ms Trad was accused of overruling an independent selection panel to ensure her own pick, Frankie Carroll, was installed as under-treasurer in 2019 and consequently investigated by the CCC.

The Supreme Court in October ordered Ms Trad’s application against the CCC be dismissed after she launched legal action to stop the watchdog releasing its report on the allegations.

It coincided with a High Court precedent that been set one month earlier involving a CCC report of allegations against former public trustee Peter Carne.

The High Court ruled the CCC report into Mr Carne was not subject to parliamentary privilege and could not be released.

Mr Miles on Wednesday said they would change the laws to expand the CCC’s reporting powers.

However he said it was a “complex matter” as it involved the High Court decision, the CCC and comparisons with other jurisdictions.

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“We need to do so in a way that accepts and respects the High Court’s findings and so we will consider the advice that we’re getting, based on that legal advice,” he told reporters.

“We want to make sure that they (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.”

LNP integrity spokesperson Fiona Simpson said the report into Ms Trad should be released by the government.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli added that Queenslanders “deserve” to the see the report as taxpayers funded both the legal bills of Ms Trad due to indemnity rules and the CCC watchdog.

“Let’s call it what it is: it’s a protection racket for a Labor mate and Queenslanders deserve to see that report,” he said on Wednesday.

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