The judge who grilled Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen during the Fitzgerald Inquiry has been appointed by the Queensland government to lead a three-month review into the state's tow truck industry.
Retired District Court judge Michael Forde has been tasked by the Labor government to investigate reports of "shark-like" practises from some tow truck operators.
A state government hotline set up a week ago for victims to predatory operators has already received about 300 calls, with reports of exorbitant fees, poor signage, intimidation and misinformation.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said Mr Forde had the legal expertise to bring the industry into line.
"Clearly what has been going on in the industry is absolutely unacceptable," Mr Bailey told reporters on Monday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We've seen successive governments over many years not deal with this matter, and that is why we've got somebody of Mr Forde's calibre here conducting this investigation."
Mr Forde said his review would be as wide ranging as possible, taking in all stakeholders, including tow truck drivers, along with those they've towed and local businesses.
"This process is not about finding people to prosecute, it's about solving the problem," Mr Forde said.
"This is not a commission of inquiry, it is an investigation and we will make sure that those persons who we've listed in the terms of reference as stakeholders will be heard."
As part of his respected legal career, Mr Forde is remembered as one of the lawyers who examined Sir Joh during the Fitzgerald Inquiry in the late-1980s.
He is renowned for an historic exchange where it was revealed the former Queensland premier did not know what the Separation of Powers Doctrine was.
Mr Bailey said the government would act quickly on the review's recommendations when it is handed down in three months' time.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls criticised the government's investigation, and said they could introduce changes next week when parliament sits if they wanted to.
"It's quite clear what the problem is, we've got tow truck operators who are basically running amok," Mr Nicholls said on Monday.
"Now the government could take action, almost in the next parliamentary sitting week, to bring that under control.
"But instead we have have yet another inquiry, another three months, and no relief for people who are subject to these unscrupulous operators."
