Tony Fitzgerald will come out of his Sunshine Coast retirement to chair a Commission of Inquiry into aspects of Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission, a body he created along with retired Supreme Court Judge Alan Wilson QC.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week announced the appointment and the Commission of Inquiry which was recommended by the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee.
“It is clear a review of the CCC is needed,” the Premier said.
“Who better than Tony Fitzgerald to conduct it?”
Mr Fitzgerald headed the historic inquiry that uncovered systemic corruption in Queensland 35 years ago.
He established the Criminal Justice Commission, later renamed the CCC, to continue the work of his inquiry.
The Premier said the terms of reference for the inquiry were based on recommendation six of the PCCC report: “The committee recommends the Queensland Government instigate a review of the CCC’s structure in regards to its investigatory and charging functions, and the role of seconded police officers at the CCC, as a Commission of Inquiry or similar, to be headed by senior counsel of sufficient standing to consider this structural basis of the CCC that has its roots in the Fitzgerald Inquiry”.
The Premier said a vital consideration of the Commission of Review is its independence from the government.
“No-one can argue about Tony Fitzgerald’s independence,” the Premier said.
“To do its job, the public must have absolute confidence in the CCC and this Commission of Inquiry.”
The Commission of Inquiry is expected to take no more than six months.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said Queensland owed Tony Fitzgerald a debt it could never repay.
“I am sure there is no-one Queensland trusts more with this important work.”
