“I am pleased to note that the CJC is now generally accepted by Queenslanders as an effective instrument for the improvement of standards in public life.”
--- Chairperson Robin O’Regan, QC
In 1993-94, the CJC completed four major inquiries into:
- the selection of the jury for the trial of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, arising from allegations referred to the CJC from the Special Prosecutor’s Office, with the final report of the inquiry published in August 1993
- allegations made by Lorrelle Anne Saunders, concerning the circumstances that led to her being charged with criminal offences, including a charge of conspiracy to murder another police officer, in 1982, with the final report of the inquiry published in April 1994
- the arrest and death of Daniel Alfred Yock, to see if the actions of police may have contributed to his death and
- complaints against six Aboriginal and regional councils which found irregularities in the financial administration and management of the councils. The investigation found only enough evidence to recommend criminal or disciplinary action in a few cases.
The CJC also began or continued investigations into alleged:
- corruption in the tow truck and smash-repair industries,
- improper disposal of liquid waste in South-East Queensland and
- abuse and neglect of patients and victimisation of staff at the Basil Stafford Centre for the Intellectually Disabled.
In 1993-94, the CJC had 263 employees and an operating budget of $20.6M.
Among the research it published that year were two more volumes of its comprehensive review of police powers a report on Cannabis and the Law in Queensland, and a Review of Recruitment and Training in the Queensland Police Service. All of these were the focus of considerable interest in the community.
In September 1993, a major report on the implementation of the Fitzgerald recommendations relating to the Criminal Justice Commission was finalised. The report detailed the status of the Fitzgerald recommendations.
The CJC’s recently established Corruption Prevention Division was making considerable progress in promoting a proactive approach to the prevention and detection of corruption. Using management system reviews and corruption prevention workshops, the CJC advised managers on how to identify areas vulnerable to corruption, how to improve practices to reduce corruption risks and how to instil ethical attitudes in the workplace.
In 1993-94, the CJC worked with 120 public sector agencies to review their policies for reporting official misconduct, held 10 workshops and assisted 50 organisations on corruption prevention issues.
It also established a support program for whistleblowers, showing a commitment to protecting the rights of those who had put their future on the line by reporting suspected corrupt activity.
The CJC held conferences on whistleblowing and on the unlawful release of confidential information to put these important issues on the public agenda. The Brisbane seminar on release of information resulted in two publications as part of its public awareness program Selling your secrets – issues paper and Selling your secrets — proceedings of a conference on the unlawful release of government information.
Improper access to and disclosure of confidential information continues to be an issue across the public sector, and remains an area of focus for the CCC today.
The CJC continued to tackle crime in Queensland by confiscating assets worth $1.45M from convicted criminals and participated in multi-agency investigations with the National Crime Authority, Australian Federal Police and interstate law enforcement agencies.
Two drug-traffickers were each sentenced to 20-years imprisonment in 1993-94 following CJC investigations. At that time, the CJC reported the sentences represented the most significant investigative success of its crime investigations, and the 20-year sentences were the heaviest for these offences since the elimination of the mandatory life sentence.
To find out more about the CJC’s activities in 1993-94:
- Read the Annual Report 1993-94.
