Councils attack State over rules around prohibited donors

QUEENSLAND councils have launched an attack on the Palaszczuk Government’s definition of “prohibited donor” amid concerns that mayors and councillors can’t even accept a cup of coffee from a property developer.

Councillors fear they can no longer accept so much as a cup of coffee off developers. File picture

THE state’s councils have launched an attack on the Palaszczuk Government’s definition of “prohibited donor” amid concerns that mayors and councillors can’t even accept a cup of coffee from a property developer.

The Local Government Association of Queensland has called on the Government to amend the new developer donation ban laws in a bid to fix the “ridiculous situation”.

Councils gathered at the LGAQ’s annual conference passed a motion that slammed the laws as unworkable and unfair.

“Currently, it is absurd that you cannot receive a coffee or meal from a prohibited donor including at functions, and that the same application is not made to ministers at the same events,” the motion said.

“Moreover, there is inconsistent advice being provided to councils about its application by the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs, the Electoral Commission Queensland, the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Integrity Commissioner.”

The LGAQ says they have been advocating for changes to the laws for the past three months.

They have called for a “practical and sensible” amendments to the laws so that it can provide greater clarity on what constitutes a gift.

The LGAQ also wants the laws to be equally applied to members of State Parliament.

COUNCILS WANT MORE MONEY

COUNCILS have called on the Morrison Government to almost double the amount of money given to local governments every year.

They want at least 1 per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue to be directed to councils through financial assistance grants — up from the current 0.55 per cent of taxation revenue.

LGAQ president Mark Jamieson said the move would restore the level of funding to what it was more than 20 years ago.

“The reality is that local councils in Australia collect just 3 per cent of the total national taxation take through rates yet need to manage and maintain 33 per cent of the nation’s public assets,” he said.

“A boost to financial assistance grants would allow us to provide a more equitable level of services to our communities.”

Councils passed a motion at today’s LGAQ conference calling on the Federal Government to stump up more money.

The LGAQ is expected to ramp up their efforts to secure more funding in the lead up to the looming federal election.