The Honourable John McKechnie QC has been reappointed to the helm of the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) for a second term.
The Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Bill 2021 passed through the Legislative Council early this morning.
The passage of the legislation delivers a key McGowan Labor Government election commitment to reappoint Mr McKechnie.
It comes after the newly constituted Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission (JSCCCC) was again unable to provide majority and bipartisan support for his return to the role.
The position of Commissioner had been advertised nationally and the Hon. John McKechnie QC was identified, for a second time, as the 'outstanding nominee' by the nominating committee chaired by the Chief Justice of Western Australia, who submitted Mr McKechnie's name to the Premier.
Commissioner of Police Chris Dawson had written to the nominating committee strongly supporting the reappointing of Mr McKechnie, describing him as 'a person of unquestioned integrity, tenacity and strength to perform the role in leading the CCC'.
The CCC has been without a substantive Commissioner since April 2020 after Mr McKechnie's reappointment was twice blocked by the Liberal member of the JSCCCC in the last term of Parliament.
Mr McKechnie had been leading a number of important investigations, including the misuse of allowances by some former Liberal parliamentarians.
His appointment commences on June 28, 2021.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"We promised we would take Mr McKechnie's reappointment to the March State election and we did.
"The people of Western Australia voted for Mr McKechnie at the ballot box, endorsing the Labor platform to have him returned."
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"In his first term as head of the Corruption and Crime Commission, Mr McKechnie made some of the biggest corruption busts in Australia's history.
"The nominating committee consisting of the Chief Justice Peter Quinlan, District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager, and a community representative appointed by the Governor have on two occasions described Mr McKechnie as the 'outstanding nominee'.
"I am pleased that Mr McKechnie can finally resume the role as Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission."
