I agree with a passing comment asking why thousands of documents sent to shredder heaven were not digitised 10 years ago. I agree history should not be shredded, no matter how bulky, inconvenient, boring it might be considered. We have unemployed people who would love a job scanning and cataloging documents that should be openly available if that is appropriate and won't put people at risk. The LNP was asleep at the wheel, not being on top of the administration of the Archives and the CMC.
The release is the subject of a PCMC inquiry into how the material, including corruption inquiry targets and startling allegations, was declassified in the State Archives.
CMC chair Ross Martin told the PCMC last week a series of documents was meant to be subject to a longer than normal exemption period before being released.
On February 3, 2012, the retention period changed from 65 years to 20 years and sensitive documents were mistakenly identified as ready for public access.
Mr Martin said former Special Branch member Barry Krosch was researching the Fitzgerald-era material at the archives when he discovered "interesting things" which probably should not have been available.
He contacted the CMC, Mr Martin said, but the problem was only partially fixed.
State archivist director Janet Prowse told the inquiry 19 people viewed the Fitzgerald Inquiry documents.
Mr Martin admitted that up to 4000 documents relating to the police corruption inquiry could have been mistakenly shredded in 2007. He revealed a journalist had requested recently a Fitzgerald Inquiry document which was missing, when authorities discovered the destruction issue this month. Public hearings on the issue will continue on Thursday and Friday.
Cunningham on front foot during parliamentary inquiry
QUEENSLAND'S PCMC chair has taken aim at sensational commentary surrounding the release of confidential documents from the Fitzgerald Inquiry and flagged the potential for greater parliament oversight. The PCMC is conducting an inquiry into how material from the Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption was declassified in the State Archives. Committee chair and Gladstone MP Liz Cunningham opened the hearing on Wednesday morning with a swipe at claims that blame for the document release lay with the PCMC.
"It has been a week since this committee became aware about the misclassification of Fitzgerald Inquiry material in the State Archives and a little later the destruction of some Fitzgerald Inquiry files in the CMC.
Despite this, there has been an allegation that the fault in the matter lays with this committee. This claim is not based on fact and represents a complete misunderstanding of the CMC and this committee."
The comments were made to be sensational, Ms Cunningham said.
The Fitzgerald Inquiry documents have been reclassified and removed from public eye.
The PCMC, responsible for overseeing the operations of the CMC, questioned State Archives staff last week in a closed hearing.
Ms Cunningham said the committee is precluded by legislation from being involved in the day-to-day operation of the CMC. She said the absence of powers to direct the CMC has added the frustration over time taken to finalise matters.
"We are determined to make a successful model for the future.On this note the committee wishes to emphasise we are not afraid of positive reform of either the CMC or the PCMC. We are open to new better measures of parliamentary oversight."
The committee will hear from Barry Krosch, a former Special Branch officer and seconded to help with the Fitzgerald Inquiry, via video-link this afternoon.
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