Under laws enacted in 2018,then-local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he was left with no choice but to dismiss the entire council because it could not form a quorum.
The decision hassparked calls for changes to the legislation,compensation for the councillors and a probe into the corruption watchdog’s actions while chairman Alan MacSporran,QC,stood aside. Former mayor Luke Smith has been committed to stand trial on separate charges.
On Thursday,Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee had permanent legislative and independent oversight of the organisation.
Ms Palaszczuk highlighted the committee’s five-year review of the watchdog had recently held public hearings and taken submissions and was due to report by July.
“Anyone can approach the committee at any time with concerns about the CCC including anyone with a complaint about the handling of any case,” she said.
Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said what had amounted to the wrongful dismissal of one of the country’s largest councils deserved more than to be “flick-passed” to the committee.
He said the association had raised concerns with the committee at the time and it was “imperative” for the Premier to ensure the matter was investigated by a third party,such as a senior judicial figure,to ensure it could not happen again.