Rules aren’t being broken but they need fixing to bring true transparency

On the election trail in 2015, then-opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk promised she would deliver an open, transparent and accountable government if she won.

“I will run a very open and transparent government, something that Campbell Newman has failed to do,” she said in January 2015, while defending a Labor cash-for-access event, arguing it was a legitimate way for parties to fund election campaigns and criticising the LNP for raising the threshold for declaring political donations from $1000 to $12,800.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk frequently touted she would bring transparency to government during the 2015 election.Credit: Getty

But almost seven years into the Palaszczuk government’s reign, processes that promise transparency are, in fact, quite opaque.

The Premier and her state cabinet were expected to attend a cash-for-access Labor federal election fundraiser on October 6-7, with businesses shelling out $5500 for tickets or $11,000 for an annual membership of the program.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles insisted the fundraiser was “very transparent”.

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

But in ministers’ official diaries, published online, only Small Business Minister Di Farmer declared she attended the “QBPN [Queensland Business Partnership Network] Welcome Event”.

She stated attendees were “invited guests” and “ministerial staff” and her office has confirmed she did not participate in any portfolio-related meetings while she was there.

Across the cabinet, no ministers appear to have disclosed meeting with Queensland’s business elite at the October 6-7 event.

There is no clarity on whether those who splashed out thousands of dollars on tickets to gain access to the Queensland government’s cabinet requested a sit-down meeting at the event, which then occurred at a later date.

Earlier this year, Mr Miles argued businesses did not need to pay for access to ministers, pointing out he met with “hundreds and hundreds” of businesses every year.

So what are these businesses paying top dollar for? Some light banter over lunch and an alternate chicken/ beef drop?

Even when businesses or stakeholders score a sit-down with a minister in their office – outside any fundraising programs – the public has no idea what they’re discussing, with diaries generally listing the purpose of the meeting as “meeting”.

It could be argued this is all transparent because the meeting has been recorded and declared publicly.

But without any idea of the agenda, how can any level of scrutiny be applied?

The problem is, this is all completely within the rules and has been going on for years.

The ministerial handbook states party political meetings or events do not need to be recorded in official diaries – Di Farmer went above and beyond what is required by declaring she attended the fundraiser.

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

A government spokesman said ministers who had meetings relevant to their portfolios disclosed those meetings, while all donations were fully declared via the Electoral Commission of Queensland - and there is no suggestion to the contrary.

Cash-for-access fundraisers were banned by former Labor premier Anna Bligh in 2009 following a scathing review by corruption buster Tony Fitzgerald, but revived by Ms Palaszczuk.

These fundraisers are not unique to Labor – the LNP held a similar corporate observers program at this year’s state conference.

On a similar theme, a review of Queensland’s integrity watchdog, following concerns about transparency, found the reason for lobbying meetings was often recorded as “other” in the official register, despite a long list of reasons being available.

The rules might be being followed, but extra sunlight will ensure transparency is not just a hollow promise.