E-Petition

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House the recent Fitzgerald Inquiry which followed the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee’s (PCCC) inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission’s (CCC) investigation and subsequent charging of eight Logan Councillors and note there has been no apology or offer of compensation to those Councillors.

The eight councillors endured a Queensland Industrial Relations Commission [QIRC] wrongful dismissal case and the CCC charged the councillors six days prior to the final hearing date of that case, resulting not only in their dismissal but the dismissal of the Logan City Council. The CCC’s case was largely based upon the testimony of former Logan CEO Sharon Kelsey who was described by the QIRC Vice President O'Connor as "an unimpressive witness whose evidence was more reconstruction not recollection". In the Brisbane Court committal hearing the Director of Prosecution (DPP) withdrew the charges and the Magistrate after hearing 9 days of evidence said the DPP reached the right decision. The PCCC found the CCC did not act independently or with impartiality. These people deserve an apology and compensation for loss of income, damage to reputation and impact on their health and family.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the Minister for Local Government to urgently issue an apology and start negotiations on compensation.