The Crime and Corruption Commission’s (CCC) 2018-19 Annual Report has been tabled in State Parliament by the Attorney-General.
Among the most significant outcomes of its work over the 2018-19 financial year, the CCC:
- Charged 59 people with 318 criminal offences
- Held 244 days of hearings relating to crime and corruption investigations and
- Forfeited assets valued at $13.65M to the State after they were identified as the proceeds of crime.
CCC Chairperson Alan MacSporran QC said that it has now been 30 years since the establishment of Queensland’s first anti-corruption and organised crime fighting body in 1989, and the work of today’s CCC continues to be an essential part of Queensland life.
“I believe the results the CCC achieved in 2018-19 on behalf of Queenslanders demonstrates the importance of an independent agency dedicated to fighting crime and public sector corruption.
“We have achieved excellent operational results from our crime and corruption investigations that were conducted during the 2018-19 financial year,” Mr MacSporran said.
Significant investigations targeted illicit markets, organised crime threats, unresolved major crime, and suspected criminal activity within the legal profession. Our corruption investigations focused on local governments as well as fraud and money laundering, and the misuse of confidential information by public servants and police.
Preventing corruption is an important role of the CCC.
“Wherever we have identified systemic weaknesses in public sector administration or legislation, we have proposed improvements and reform to prevent those corruption risks from continuing,” Mr MacSporran said.
In March 2019, the CCC welcomed amendments to its governing legislation. The changes removed the benefit or detriment component of the definition of corrupt conduct and required public sector agencies to record the reasons why they have not referred a matter to the CCC. The changes also recognise that people outside the public sector can exploit, adversely influence or corrupt public sector processes.
“The CCC can now investigate allegations made about members of the public if their conduct impairs, or could impair, confidence in public sector administration. This could lead to these people being charged with criminal offences,” Mr MacSporran said.
The 2018-19 Annual Report highlights the complex, unique and effective work of the CCC.
“Thirty years after the Fitzgerald Inquiry, time has proved that our unique powers, when used in collaboration with our law enforcement and public sector partners, are the key to our continued success in fighting crime and corruption.
“We will continue to focus our resources on tackling the threat of major crime and corruption for the benefit of Queenslanders.”
A copy of the 2018-19 Annual Report is now available at: www.ccc.qld.gov.au/annualreport
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