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Qld Crime and Corruption Commission chairman resigns
Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran QC has resigned, citing that his relationship with a parliamentary committee had “broken down irretrievably” after it made several criticisms about his decision-making.
Naomi Neilson
Almost two months after the parliamentary crime and corruption committee (PCCC) found he had failed in his duty to ensure the watchdog acted “independently and impartiality”, Mr MacSporran announced that he had advised the Attorney-General about his decision to resign, effective last Friday, 28 January.
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In a statement, Mr MacSporran said that many people had urged him to continue in the role despite the PCCC report. He added that in his 40 years of legal experience, including as a Queen’s counsel and as a criminal barrister in Queensland and commonwealth jurisdictions, his “honesty and integrity have never been questioned”.
“In my long career, I have never, ever let extraneous irrelevant considerations enter my thinking about a decision relating to the proper exercising of powers in proceedings as a Queen’s counsel criminal barrister or as chairperson,” he said.
“The role of chairperson is challenging, and I will always consider myself to have been exceptionally privileged to have led it for the time I have. The CCC is greater than the sum of its parts and I wish the agency every success in the future while it continues its essential role of combatting major crime and reducing corruption.”
In December, the PCCC recommended a commission of inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission, following the failed prosecutions of eight Logan City councillors who were charged with fraud. The charges, relating to former chief executive Sharon Kelsey, were discontinued in a Brisbane court last year.
The PCCC criticised the extent to which the watchdog has recently focused on high-level criminal investigations rather than institutional corruption and directed some of its disapproval at Mr MacSporran’s duty as chairman to ensure it acted impartially.
While the Queensland government seeks a replacement, Bruce Barbour has been appointed acting chair. Mr Barbour has been a senior member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a member of the NSW Casino Control Authority, a member of the NSW Institute of Criminology advisory committee, and more.
“He has the capacity and skills to lead the CCC in the interim and has a thorough understanding of its operations since being appointed as an ordinary commissioner in 2021 with the bi-partisan support of the parliamentary crime and corruption committee,” Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said.
