A former south-east Queensland mayor has slammed the state's corruption watchdog, calling the organisation "out of control", after criminal charges levelled against him more than two years ago were dropped.
In December 2019, Allan Sutherland was suspended from his position at the Moreton Bay Regional Council, after being charged with two counts of misconduct in relation to public office.
The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) alleged he had tried to influence council to change the timing and scope of a road upgrade between 2017 and 2018, which would have affected land he owned in Burpengary.
It also alleged he tried to lobby councillors to change proposed amendments to the local government planning scheme to benefit future development.
After a part-heard committal hearing in Brisbane last year, Crown Prosecutor Sarah Farnden told the court today they would not continue to prosecute Mr Sutherland.
"Our office has decided not to proceed further with the charges, and I therefore offer no evidence," she said.
The decision came after the prosecution considered submissions by Mr Sutherland's lawyer and a Court of Appeal judgement in relation to an employee who worked at the Ipswich council.
Mr Sutherland hugged his wife as a magistrate told him he was free to leave court.
In a statement, the CCC said it "accepts and respects" the decision by the prosecution to drop the charges.
'Queensland deserves much better'
Outside, Mr Sutherland said the "wheels of justice" had been slow, but they did not fail him.
"I always knew it would come to this from day one," he said.
"I have never done anything wrong."
Mr Sutherland described the CCC's investigation of him as "appalling" and said the organisation has serious "cultural" and "systemic" issues.
"Queensland deserves much better than what we're getting from the CCC; they should have no faith in that organisation whatsoever and nor should the government.
"I'll be working with whoever it takes to see that another mayor doesn't have to go through what I've had to go through."
Mr Sutherland, who does not plan to return to local government, said the court process had been "trying" and "hard on everybody" in his life, and he looked forward to moving on.
"It's just nice to wake up in the morning not having this in the back of your mind," he said.
Mr Sutherland's case was one of several recent failed prosecutions by the CCC, including several Logan City Councillors who had fraud charges dismissed last year due to insufficient evidence.
The collapse of that case led to a parliamentary inquiry, which found the organisation breached its duty to remain independent and impartial.
It has now called for a commission of inquiry into CCC's structure and functions.
Sutherland matter the 'final straw'
Alison Smith, from the Local Government Association Queensland, said her organisation knew of 15 matters brought through court by the CCC which had been cleared in the last 12 months.
"How many more times do we need to see a case where the life, the reputation and the career of an elected official has been tarnished because of a case that has been brought by the CCC?" she said.
"It is a terrible, terrible situation with huge personal costs to those who have been taken through incidents like this, to have the case simply thrown out."
Ms Smith said after the "damning findings" of the parliamentary committee were released late last year, today's outcome was the "final straw".
"We've written to the Premier and ask that the chair of the CCC be removed," she said.
"[CCC chair] Alan MacSporran needs to go."
The CCC statement did not respond to criticism of Mr MacSporran.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said this morning he would not immediately comment on the criticisms of the CCC.
"Obviously it's a matter I've monitored closely — I live in the Moreton Bay region," he said.
"I worked very closely with Mr Sutherland but I'll look at the detail of what the court has said and take that into account.
"This is a matter that will be considered by the PCCC (Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee)."
