Summary
CCC Chair Alan MacSporran’s decision not to recommend prosecution of the premier for what he admits is a breach of the criminal code is wrong. The premier should be held to a higher standard than an ordinary citizen, and failing to charge her, and leaving the judgment of her guilt or innocence to the parliament, where she has the numbers, leaves a cloud over her head.
The current government’s punishment of particular groups, like the Katter Party, or in another area, citizens involved in the property industry, because they disagree with their right to have a view, is in the tradition of corrupt Queensland governance which was said to have ended with the Bjelke-Petersen government.
Analysis
- The chair of the CCC says that there is a prima facie case against the premier for breach of Section 60 of the Criminal Code but refuses to prosecute because he believes there is no chance of conviction, and it wouldn’t serve the public interest.
- Even if a judge might find the premier guilty, but not record a conviction, how is this case any different from the thousands of others involving average citizens who are found technically guilty, but do go to trial, even if they are given community service and no conviction is recorded?
- The premier is not an ordinary person, and it is imperative that not only is justice done, but that it is seen to be done. Citizens are rightly disaffected with politics because they perceive there is one rule for them, and another for those in power.
- Handing the matter to the parliament to handle, where the premier has the numbers is in effect giving it over to “Caesar” to be judged by “Caesar”.
- The CCC Chair brought down the Belcarra Report which recommended taking democratic rights away from people in the property and building industry, but not from unions, on the basis that there was corruption in the property industry, despite the only wrong-doing uncovered in the report being by a union-backed candidate involving union assistance.
- The CCC Chair claimed the Belcarra legislation was necessary because of a public suspicion of people in the property and building industry, without systematically assessing whether there was. We conducted a poll using Reachtel which showed that the public suspects a range of groups, including trade unions, of receiving benefits in return for donations.
- In evidence to the Parliamentary Economics and Governance Committee on Belcarra the CCC Chair claimed he had seen no evidence of union corruption, even though the Trade Union Royal Commission, plus the rulings of many judges excoriating the then CFMEU for lawlessness, were on the public record at the time.
- The CCC Chair’s judgment is suspect, and appears to be beneficial to one side of the political debate, and the union movement. To rescue his position he should reconsider his position and recommend charges against the premier.
Quote
“The Premier’s actions in taking resources from the Katter Party in the state parliament because of what a member of their party said in the federal parliament are reprehensible, as are the Opposition’s in urging her to take these steps in the first place. It appears we are returning to a style of government where fairness is marginalised in the interest of the exercise of brute power, which is a style of corruption I thought had disappeared with the end of the Bjelke-Petersen regime.” Graham Young 0411 104 801