Queensland’s corruption watchdog does not want itself used as a political football.

The state’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has again called for an offence to be created to limit publication of complaints to the CCC during council elections, to allow the watchdog time to assess them.

The CCC held a public inquiry into the issue in 2016, presenting its findings to the Government in December that year, including a recommendation a new offence be created.

“…the CCC recommends the government consider making it an offence for any person to publicise allegations of corrupt conduct against a councillor or candidate during a local government election period, without first notifying the CCC and allowing the CCC at least  three months to determine whether the allegations have merit,” its 2016 report stated.

The watchdog drew the Government’s attention to the need for a new offence in a report tabled in parliament this week.

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam has backed the renewed call.

“The LGAQ had been advocating for the best part of a decade for a new offence to be created to stop the CCC being used as a political football during local government elections,” Mr Hallam said.

“In fact, the need for such an offence was raised by the then Criminal Justice Commission in 1992, almost 30 years ago.

“The LGAQ understands the need for transparency and accountability as well as the need to ensure the freedom of the press and the public’s right to know are not undermined.

“However, the Association also believes there is a need for this to be balanced against an individual’s fundamental right to be considered innocent until proven guilty and for the CCC to be able to conduct its assessment of complaints free from influence and pressure.

“The reporting of allegations against council staff and sitting councillors – and the subsequent publicising of those complaints - generally increases six to 12 months out from the quadrennial elections.

CCC figures for the 2008, 2012 and 2016 election periods show the watchdog received an average of 27 complaints a month about mayors or councillors during local government election periods, compared to an average of 12 per month during non-election years with just 6 per cent of those allegations made during an election period substantiated.

“This causes damage not only to the institution of local government but also to the reputations of those council staff or elected members who are the subject of what are often subsequently found to be baseless complaints,” Mr Hallam said.