ALAN MACSPORRAN TO HEAD CRIME AND CORRUPTION COMMISSION

ALAN MacSporran QC has been appointed the new chair of the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says MacSporran was an excellent and solid choice who was selected after an extensive recruitment process by the government.

"This is the best person for the job," she says.

"The CCC chair needs to be highly qualified and completely independent and Mr MacSporran fits the bill.

"He will bring a wealth of experience to this important Queensland institution and provide the type of stability people in this state should come to expect."

MacSporran was admitted as a barrister in 1978 and worked as a Crown Prosecutor in the Queensland Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before joining the private bar.

He has experience prosecuting matters on behalf of the Commonwealth and State and served as the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Commissioner between 2004 and 2009.

MacSporran was senior counsel for the State of Queensland at the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, was the independent reviewer into the Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry and has made regular appearances in the criminal jurisdiction, including for corporate fraud, insider trading and tax fraud matters.

Queensland Law Society congratulated MacSporran his appointment. President Michael Fitzgerald says the appointment announced by the Premier fills a significant gap in Queensland's legal landscape, ending ongoing uncertainly created by the vacancy.

"We welcome Mr MacSporran's appointment and the State Government's ongoing consultation filling vital vacant positions," he says.

"Mr MacSporran has recently distinguished himself as the head of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry Commission of Inquiry. The Society is confident he will bring a welcome combination of legal expertise (which includes acting in criminal matters), integrity and independence to the role.

"This is a promise fulfilled from the State Government, which in our pre-election call to parties document, committed to merit-based selection processes for key public service positions, and statutory appointments, in a timely fashion.

"We congratulate all the parties involved with recent Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Commission Committee meetings resolving the deadlock in the appointment of the chair of the commission.

"We look forward to the filling of other important vacancies in the commission the remaining commissioners and the CEO."

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D'Ath says MacSporran is highly-regarded by the wider legal profession and brought with him a wealth of experience.

"This is a well-respected legal representative who has already demonstrated the tenacity and dedication necessary for this role in his vast career, which includes extensive experience in commissions of inquiry, investigative work and in complex, high-level trials," she says.

"He has the reputation, the independence and the integrity to serve Queenslanders faithfully into the future as chairman of the CCC."

MacSporran will commence his new role on September 1 2015.