The Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commissioner's recent actions have sparked controversy. In a swift move, the new commissioner, Michael Corboy, has removed a contentious section from a report written by his predecessor, John McKechnie. This section alleged that former Japanese trade commissioner, Craig Peacock, had acted corruptly by double-dipping on cost of living allowance claims and payments, costing taxpayers over $500,000. The report also discussed Peacock's use of state resources to fund massages for Liberal MPs at a Japanese bathhouse, raising questions about tax obligations in both Japan and Australia.
The controversy lies in the commissioner's decision to delete a section that suggested Peacock had possibly evaded tax in both countries, a serious accusation. The Parliamentary Inspector, Matthew Zilko, had previously concluded that Peacock did not need to pay tax in Japan due to his official passport and visa, thus refuting the tax evasion claim. The CCC initially failed to address Zilko's findings, leading to a misleading impression in the report.
The removal of the section has been praised by some, including shadow attorney general Nick Goiran, who credits the commissioner and the chair of the Parliamentary Committee for addressing the issue. However, others argue that the government should reconsider its stance on Peacock's request for redress, given the six-year saga of systemic obstruction. The state government spokesperson has stated that revisions to CCC reports are an independent matter, leaving the decision-making process open to further scrutiny.
