Your say: Queensland to scrap controversial ban on property developer political donations
Property developers will again be able to donate to political parties – now Qlders are chiming in. HAVE YOUR SAY
Queensland elections are set for sweeping changes in a bid to “level the playing field” – but not everyone is on board.
It was revealed property developers will again be able to donate to political parties and prisoners serving more than one year in jail will be barred from voting as part of the reforms.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington tabled a series of major electoral law changes on the final sitting day of parliament 2025.
They include lifting the ban on property developer political donations at state elections.
Property developers were banned from donating to political parties in 2018 by the Palaszczuk government after a CCC investigation found property developers were influencing local councils through donations.
The LNP at the time said the move to extend the donor ban to state elections was politically motivated and a financial gerrymander.
Premier David Crisafulli last year vowed to remove the ban, declaring “you cannot have one rule for one class and another rule for the unions”.
Ms Frecklington, introducing the election law amendments on Thursday, said the changes would finally “right that wrong” and “level the playing field”.
Property developers will still be banned from donating to local governments, with an additional offence introduced that prohibits a political party from donating to a local government election campaign.
Ms Frecklington said the changes properly reflected the outcomes of the CCC Belcarra investigation, which only recommended restriction of developer donations for local elections.
Greens MP Michael Berkman called the bill an “obscene” move by the LNP, saying it undermined all electoral funding reform.
Readers piled into the debate, with many hailing the move as the correct step.
Others, though, highlighted potential issues when they go through.
While some offered alternative ideas to streamline the whole system.
In an online poll about 70 per cent of readers voted that property developers should be allowed to donate to political parties.
See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>
WHAT YOU SAID
I support it
Peter
Good. Levels the playing field.
Why?
If Unions can donate, other businesses should be able to also. Transparency for all is important though.
Paul
There was not one logical reason why developers were singled out. It was purely spite by labor, who believed if they don’t get the majority of donations then no one will.
Monique
Every legitimate business should be able to donate. You can’t ban developers but allow unions.
This spells trouble
Graham
The Labor Party, allowed multiple unions to donate, so why should property developers have equal rights as that which Anna legislated for the unions
David
Seriously, none of these donations are ‘transparent’ ie the actual donation $$ spending is accounted for or publicly available. It’s just absorbed into political party coffers.
Steven
There’s plenty of logical reasons, including because they get favourable treatment from Ministers when putting in future development applications. It’s why other states (including NSW) have the same ban.
LARRY
Palaszczuk introduced that restriction on property developers solely to hurt the LNP and strengthen the financial gerrymander she created by allowing unions to donate over $1m each. It was not recommended by Coldrake in his report that developers be banned from state political donations – just local councils. Hypocrisy to the extreme.
I have an idea
Looking for the Truth
It was either that or ban donations from unions, there has to be a level playing field.
Grant
Ban both. Easy. I would have thought.
Katrina
Everyone who donates (activists of all kinds) has some sort of agenda they would like to see. You should allow all, or ban all. Unions and property developers are no more egregious than any other interest group. As long as it is transparent (mr)
Uncle Bob proud Queensland man
Good, now can we bring back optional preferential voting as well?
