Queensland CMC chairman calls it quits

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission chairman Ross Martin has resigned to get a lung transplant. The Queensland government had been forcing Martin to quit after failing to reclassify secret files from the Fitzgerald inquiry into corruption 25 years ago. However, Martin insists he is leaving due to deteriorating health conditions.

“In this highly unusual and likely never to be repeated collection of circumstances, but of course for health reasons, I have decided to take leave to progress as quickly as possible the process of ill-health retirement. I no longer have the resources of health to continue to perform the job with the vigor that is necessary and as soon as I became conscious of that, I have decided to leave,” says Martin.

It was recently discovered that the commission had accidentally publicly revealed several confidential files from the 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption. The government condemned the act and urged Martin to accept responsibility and quit.

“A principle similar to ministerial responsibility has force in the present context, whatever might emerge from the review. That said a CMC chair should not be too ready to resign, lest the organization’s independence be too readily undermined. The CMC chair’s position has powerful statutory entrenchment to defend its security against political whim,” said Martin.

Martin also thanked his family and colleagues supporting him through tough times.

“My family has suffered my pursuit of a career for too long. They are entitled to as much of my time as I can give them. I thank my staff for their dedicated, largely unsung, devotion to the virtues of fighting crime and of integrity. I will not be coming back. I wish my successor and CMC generally the very best in its vital work,” he added.