The report from an inquiry into Queensland corruption watchdog has been released. 

The Queensland Commission of Inquiry relating to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) led by former judge and the CCC’s chair Tony Fitzgerald and its commissioner Alan Wilson, was recommended by the state’s Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee. 

The report says there are three main areas of concern at the CCC; an overreliance on seconded police officers, a lack of multidisciplinary approaches to corruption investigations, and failure to seek the advice of the director of public prosecutions prior to any corruption charges being brought. 

“In particular, risks concerning an undue focus upon what might be called a ‘law enforcement’ approach in corruption matters at the expense of other responses like systemic or organisational changes intended to promote prevention,” the report says. 

“And what seemed to us to be uncertainty and ambiguity around the duties and responsibilities of seconded officers arising from their continued institutional connections, while at the CCC, to their primary employer, the [Queensland Police Force].”

The report says seconded police officers are still appropriate, but made suggestions for changes on how the QPS should operate in those roles.

It recommends creating greater flexibility and diversity of roles within the Crime and Corruption Commission Police Group, and a review of the CCC’s organisational culture.

The report also recommends greater “civilianisation” of the CCC such as efforts to transition the executive director of corruption operations into a civilian role.

Additionally, it calls for a dedicated policy and procedure officer to continually review the CCC’s operational policies and procedures. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says all democratic institutions must improve where necessary.

“It’s thanks to the Fitzgerald Inquiry that Queensland has a permanent anti-corruption watchdog that has served us for the past 30 years,” she said. 

“It’s thanks to this Commission of Inquiry that we will have an even better anti-corruption body to serve us into the future.”

The Premier said the government is considering all 32 of the recommendations and will respond “at the appropriate time”. 

The report is available in PDF form, here.