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Laine Clark

Qld A-G seeks legal advice on watchdog report release

The Qld AG is seeking legal advice after Jackie Trad won a court battle to keep a report secret. (Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOS)

Queensland's Attorney General says she is weighing up legal advice after former deputy premier Jackie Trad won a court battle to keep secret an anti-corruption watchdog's report.

The Supreme Court in Brisbane on Tuesday ordered Ms Trad's application against the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) be dismissed.

All parties accepted the state's law as it stands would not allow the release of a CCC report on allegations against Ms Trad.

The CCC launched the probe after Ms Trad was accused of overruling an independent selection panel to ensure her own pick, Frankie Carroll, was installed as under-treasurer in 2019.

Ms Trad launched legal action to stop the CCC releasing their report on the allegations.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said she was getting legal advice but told reporters on Wednesday that it was "not a black and white situation" following a recent High Court decision.

All parties consented to end Ms Trad's matter in the Supreme Court on Tuesday after another former Queensland public official set a High Court precedent recently.

The High Court ruled last month that a CCC report on allegations against former public trustee Peter Carne was not subject to parliamentary privilege and could not be released.

Asked if she was considering changing laws to allow the release of the CCC reports, Ms D'Ath on Wednesday said: "I am looking at that at the moment.

"I have met with the CCC. It does raise some complex issues around the powers and some unanswered questions in relation to that High Court decision.

"So I... am putting some more legal questions forward to just make sure that I understand the consequences of any advice that may go forward to the premier, to cabinet, in relation to how we go forward."

Ms D'Ath said she was preparing a brief for the premier and cabinet but did not have a timeline.

The CCC agreed to a proposal to pay Ms Trad's costs after Tuesday's Supreme Court decision.

Taxpayers funded the legal bills of both Ms Trad, due to indemnity rules, and the CCC watchdog.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Wednesday that the full costings would eventually be released hours after Ms D'Ath told reporters that they would not.

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