The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) has provided the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee (PCMC) with a final report arising from an independent assessment of a series of allegations about medical matters that may reveal misconduct.
The independent report, prepared by retired Justice of the Queensland Court of Appeal, Richard Chesterman AO RFD QC, was completed on 11 July and provided to CMC Chairperson Ross Martin SC and then by him to the PCMC and relevant Ministers.
Mr Chesterman was engaged to conduct a preliminary assessment of allegations contained in a complaint referred by the PCMC to the CMC on 24 April. His role was to determine the detail of what the complainant could provide, prioritise the many potential issues raised and provide a framework for any further examination.
Mr Chesterman’s final report and, previously two interim reports, have been provided to the PCMC as the body to whom the complaints were originally formally made. His assessment also resulted in the referral of criminal allegations against a Gold Coast doctor to the Queensland Police Service on 15 May.
It is not appropriate for the CMC to comment on Mr Chesterman’s conclusions, as documented in his reports, until they have been duly considered by the PCMC and relevant Ministers.
At this time, any decision concerning provision of the reports to parties is a matter for the PCMC. Similarly, any future decision about potential public release of the reports is first a consideration for the PCMC.
On a separate matter, the CMC is continuing its assessment of information provided by Peter Wellington MP, the Independent Member for Nicklin, concerning a number of other allegations related to medical matters that may reveal misconduct.
As a matter of course, this material was provided to Mr Chesterman as part of his separate assessment process in case it may assist him to draw conclusions about whether there was evidence of systemic failings in the Queensland health system.
Update: On 23 July 2012, the PCMC tabled a report of the assessment (PDF, 1.9 MB).
ENDS
