CCC to hand down report on Bailey’s future by end of month
Mark Bailey. Picture: Liam Kidston- The Australian
Queensland’s stood-aside Energy Minister Mark Bailey could find out by the end of the month whether he broke the law by deleting his private email account.
The Crime and Corruption Commission found on July 19 there was a “reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct” because Mr Bailey had allegedly deleted his private Yahoo email account containing public records.
The watchdog said this was potentially a breach of the Public Records Act 2002 and asked State Archivist Mike Summerell to investigate. The offence is punishable by a fine if proven.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said she expected Mr Summerell’s report this month.
“I think there was supposed to be some report back in August, my understanding is,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Mr Bailey has been stood aside from his ministerial position pending Mr Summerell’s findings.
The CCC confirmed no deadline had been set for Mr Summerell to deliver a final report.
“The 30 August report will be a progress report,” the spokesman said. The CCC is monitoring the investigation.
During recent budget estimates hearings, it was revealed Mr Summerell had not undertaken “any investigations of this nature while in his current role”.
However, Minister Leeanne Enoch said Mr Summerell had an “extensive audit and investigative background” and had even led corruption investigation teams at firms such as KPMG, EY and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“The internal expertise that the state archivist has at his disposal is exceptional,” Ms Enoch said in an answer to a question on notice.
“The staff at Queensland State Archives are by far the most knowledgeable people in Queensland in terms of the Public Records Act 2002.”
The CCC also found a “number of other ministers” had used private email accounts and while no corrupt conduct was identified, CCC chair Alan MacSporran said it was a “corruption risk”.
Ms Palaszczuk said her department was still working with the CCC on developing new formal advice to ministers about the need to use ministerial emails for all ministerial business.
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