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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/29/tony-fitzgerald-tears-into-queensland-government-for-abuse-of-power
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| Tony Fitzgerald tears into Queensland government for abuse of power | Tony Fitzgerald tears into Queensland government for abuse of power |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Queensland's ruling Liberal National Party is abusing its power through its huge, unchecked majority, the state's best known corruption fighter says. | Queensland's ruling Liberal National Party is abusing its power through its huge, unchecked majority, the state's best known corruption fighter says. |
| Tony Fitzgerald, who headed the Fitzgerald inquiry into police corruption in the 1980s, has launched a scathing attack on the LNP government just two days before Queensland's corruption watchdog, the Crime and Misconduct Commission, begins its transformation into the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). | |
| The Labor opposition has argued that the CCC laws could open the state to more misconduct and corruption. | |
| On Sunday Fitzgerald said he was reluctant to comment on the ongoing “Queensland saga” but released a short statement saying he did not expect voters to tolerate “destructive populism of an irresponsible government for long” and wanted to regain his anonymity and privacy in retirement. | |
| “The LNP's first term in office has confirmed the critical importance of adequate checks and balances,” he said in the statement. | “The LNP's first term in office has confirmed the critical importance of adequate checks and balances,” he said in the statement. |
| “The government has already flaunted its disdain for democracy and good governance by attacks on the judiciary and judicial independence, emasculation of the state's anti-corruption commission and interference with the electoral system.” | “The government has already flaunted its disdain for democracy and good governance by attacks on the judiciary and judicial independence, emasculation of the state's anti-corruption commission and interference with the electoral system.” |
| He also accused the government of pursuing self-interest, favouring its supporters and passing “irrational, counterproductive and sometimes invalid” criminal laws. | He also accused the government of pursuing self-interest, favouring its supporters and passing “irrational, counterproductive and sometimes invalid” criminal laws. |
| Fitzgerald has already criticised the state's controversial anti-bikie legislation. | Fitzgerald has already criticised the state's controversial anti-bikie legislation. |
| He said Queensland was extremely vulnerable to the misuse and abuse of power, given a lack of constitutional limits on the state's single house of parliament. | He said Queensland was extremely vulnerable to the misuse and abuse of power, given a lack of constitutional limits on the state's single house of parliament. |
| Without an effective parliamentary opposition, the checks and balances needed for democracy were missing. | Without an effective parliamentary opposition, the checks and balances needed for democracy were missing. |
| “Queensland's future is a matter for its voters,” he said. “At the next state election they will simply need to decide which party will do the least long-term damage.” | “Queensland's future is a matter for its voters,” he said. “At the next state election they will simply need to decide which party will do the least long-term damage.” |
| Fitzgerald also blamed News Corp publications such as the Courier-Mail for helping the LNP outside parliament. | Fitzgerald also blamed News Corp publications such as the Courier-Mail for helping the LNP outside parliament. |
| “News Corporation publications, which dominate the local print media, consistently publish biased reports which favour the government,” he said. | “News Corporation publications, which dominate the local print media, consistently publish biased reports which favour the government,” he said. |
| A response has been sought from Campbell Newman's office. | A response has been sought from Campbell Newman's office. |
| The overhaul of the Crime and Misconduct Commission has sparked controversy and public debate, but without it the attorney general, Jarrod Bleijie, says the organisation would have become snowed under and run itself into the ground. | |
| "The new Crime and Corruption Commission will be a modern, unmuzzled watchdog that will fearlessly and effectively tackle serious crime and corruption in Queensland, something the old CMC was unable to do," Bleijie said. | |
| The CCC will no longer investigate allegations of minor misconduct. The CCC legislation also allows the acting chairman, Ken Levy, who is under investigation for misleading parliament, to remain in the role until the end of October. | |
| A chief executive officer will also be hired for the first time. | |
| The Australian Associated Press contributed to this report. |