The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) today tabled in Parliament its report on an investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct surrounding the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) decision to lease premises at Stones Corner.
This report examines the critical decision-making behind the QPS’s decision to enter into a long-term lease of a major commercial property at Stones Corner, Brisbane, based on a need for suitable accommodation.
The QPS committed to approximately $116 million in lease costs over 15 years to premises that were later found unfit for purpose and ultimately not occupied.
The investigation identified no dishonesty, improper relationship or personal benefit on the part of any person. The significance of the matter lies in the governance and control weaknesses that allowed a commitment of this size to be made and to become binding.
An agreement to lease was entered into without the appropriate level of governance or the specialist expertise required for government property leasing. It proceeded before securing the necessary government funding. The approval submission did not refer to the whole-of-life cost, funding source, and concerns raised during consultation as to suitability. The approving committee did not adequately scrutinise the proposal. Due diligence was undertaken and legal advice sought only after the commitment, and the QPS did not use available opportunities to reconsider before becoming bound.
Multiple controls that could have prevented this outcome failed at the same time. Although the QPS had appropriate controls, their failure resulted from a breakdown in organisational culture. Controls were assumed to be operating, concerns were not communicated to decision-makers, and responsibilities were unclear. In the public sector, such weaknesses increase the risk of corruption.
The report, titled Investigation Sphynx: An investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct surrounding the QPS’s decision to enter into the Stones Corner lease is available here.
The CCC is an independent agency combating major crime and reducing corruption for the benefit of the Queensland community.
ENDS
