Unclear which Labor ministers rubbed shoulders with business elite at fundraiser

Details of which Palaszczuk government ministers rubbed shoulders with Queensland’s business elite at Labor’s cash-for-access event remain unclear, despite assurances the federal election fundraiser would be transparent.

The Premier and her state cabinet were expected to attend the Queensland Business Partnership Network event across October 6 and 7, including a cocktail party, lunch and networking, with businesses shelling out $5500 for tickets or $11,000 for an annual membership.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles promised the Queensland Labor fundraiser would be very transparent, with all donations and meetings disclosed.Credit: Matt Dennien

But official ministerial diaries for October provide little clarity on which cabinet members attended the Labor fundraiser and who they might have spoken with.

That is because the ministerial handbook states party political meetings or events do not need to be disclosed in official diaries.

Talking over lunch about general matters would not be considered a “meeting” and would not need to be disclosed in official diaries, nor would a request to set up a meeting for a future date.

Small Business Minister Di Farmer was the only MP to disclose she went to the “QBPN Welcome Event” on October 6, declaring attendees were “invited guests” and “ministerial staff”, and her office confirmed she did not participate in any portfolio-related meetings.

A search of the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s public disclosure log reveals law firm Maurice Blackburn declared a $2200 donation to Queensland Labor on October 18 for “2 tickets to the Queensland Business Partnership Network fundraiser lunch with Hon [Transport Minister] Mark Bailey MP & [federal] Shadow Minister Catherine King MP”.

But Mr Bailey said no meetings took place with Maurice Blackburn at the Business Partnership Network fundraiser on October 6 or 7.

There are also no meetings with Maurice Blackburn listed in Mr Bailey’s diary for October.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe does not appear to have any relevant entries in his diary for October 6 or 7 but on October 14 met with representatives from professional services firm RPS Group and lobbyist firm SAS Group.

A search of the ECQ disclosures log reveals SAS Consulting Group disclosed $198 on August 31 for “1 tickets [sic] to QBPN event with Stirling Hinchliffe” and also an $11,000 membership to the Queensland Business Partnership Network on March 31.

A spokesman for Mr Hinchliffe said the minister attended the Business Partnership event but no meetings were held.

“The minister met with RPS Group and SAS Group during a Parliament sitting day on October 14 ... The SAS Group disclosure appears to relate to a separate event in September,” he said.

A Queensland government spokesman said ministers who had meetings relevant to their porfolios had disclosed those meetings.

“While donations to the party are a matter for the state secretary, all donations are fully declared,” he said.

“As the government has made clear in the past, there will be no need for these types of events in the future.”

In October, Deputy Premier Steven Miles insisted the Labor event was transparent.

“We disclose all contributions, we disclose all meetings,” he said.

Mr Miles defended the program as a chance to talk to businesses about the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19, but said they did not have to pay to get access to ministers.

“If you look at my diary, I meet with businesses every single day – hundreds and hundreds over the year,” he said.

Businesses to shell out for the program this year include KPMG, Slater & Gordon, construction company Watpac, the Queensland Trucking Association, Baxter Healthcare, the Local Government Association of Queensland, Transurban, Allianz, Black & White Cabs, Genex Power, Ramsay Health Care, the Taxi Council of Queensland and lobbyist firm Govstrat.

Labor state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell said: “Queensland Labor has been a leader in introducing some of the country’s strongest laws in relation to disclosure and transparency. All disclosures are made in accordance to law.”

The event came before state laws come into effect next year imposing caps on donations to candidates and political parties.