Amy Remeikis reports in the Brisbane Times (15.3.16) on recommendations from the head of the Crime and Corruption Commission regarding vexatious complaints and disclosure of investigation details. This comes in the wake of allegations of impropriety made against Brisbane's Lord Mayor during the council election campaign.
'After its entreaties to run an "honest campaign" were ignored, the state's corruption watchdog is pushing to have disclosing a Crime and Corruption Commission referral an offence, as it seeks to cut down on "vexatious" complaints.
'The CCC has received complaints about councillors in 29 of the state's 77 councils since January, as local government elections ramped up.
'Of those, it has assessed 50 per cent. Most, including the most recent allegations made against Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, did not lead to an investigation.
'Speaking at a recent Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee update, CCC chair Alan MacSporran said while making a false or vexatious complaint was an offence, it was "extraordinary difficult to gather the evidence" and prove.'