Former Ipswich mayor Pisasale plans to fight charges

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale says he fights "for fair" and plans to challenge the criminal charges levelled against him, including extortion allegations.

The 65-year-old appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning in a standard-issue brown watch-house tracksuit, a day after he was arrested and charged by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Terry Gardiner granted bail on a number of conditions.

Asked by media outside the watch house if he would fight the charges, Pisasale replied: "Of course I will".

"All my life, people know that I've fought for Ipswich, that I've fought for fair and I'm going to continue to do that," he said.

"So I'm waiting for due process to happen."

He then took a moment to praise Ipswich as a "great place" before hopping into a waiting car and leaving the court precinct for a doctor's appointment.

The arrest came only two weeks after Mr Pisasale stood down from his longstanding role as mayor of the southeast Queensland city on June 6, citing ill health.

Speaking to media on the morning of his resignation at St Andrew’s Private Hospital, Mr Pisasale said a recent episode of multiple sclerosis, which he has suffered for 26 years, had put him “up against the wall”.

"My journey's been going for about 26 years and I'm so proud to have been a mayor that's represented such a wonderful city,” he said.

"Now it's my time to look after my health."

Mr Pisasale was first elected mayor in 2004 and remained hugely popular with Ipswich residents, winning the last election in 2016 with more than 83 percent of the vote.