The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) will hold a public hearing as part of an investigation into the conduct of candidates involved in the 2016 local government elections for the Gold Coast City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Ipswich City Council.
The hearing is scheduled to commence on Tuesday 18 April 2017. CCC Chairperson Alan MacSporran QC will preside at the hearing.
The CCC’s Operation Belcarra is investigating a number of allegations relating to the 2016 local government elections.
The purpose of the hearing is to gather information about possible criminal offences to support Operation Belcarra and to also canvass broader issues related to corruption and integrity in local government.
At this stage the CCC public hearing is:
1) investigating whether candidates in the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay and/or Ipswich 2016 local government elections –
a) advertised or fundraised for the election as an undeclared group of candidates, an offence contrary to section 183 of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (LGE Act).
b) provided an electoral funding and financial disclosure return that was false or misleading in a material particular, an offence contrary to section 195 of the LGE Act.
c) have not operated a dedicated bank account during the candidates’ disclosure period to receive and/or pay funds related to the candidates’ election campaign, an offence contrary to section 126 of the LGE Act.
2) examining issues or practices that are relevant to the identification of actual or perceived corruption risks in relation to the conduct of candidates and third parties at local government elections, including issues or practices relating to groups of candidates, independence of candidates, election gifts and funding, conflicts of interest or material personal interests by councillors.
3) examining strategies or reforms to prevent or decrease actual or perceived corruption risks in relation to the conduct of candidates and third parties at local government elections.
The hearing is currently scheduled to be held at the CCC from 18 - 21 April 2017 and 26 - 28 April 2017.
Further information about the hearing including witness lists will be made available on the CCC’s website in the lead up to the hearing.
The hearing will be streamed live.
Information on the hearing will be published here.
ENDS
