State ‘overstepped’ on developer donation ban
The Queensland Government overstepped its authority by making no attempt to apply its controversial developer donation ban only to state elections, the High Court heard.
Crime & Justice
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crime & Justice. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Palaszczuk Government over stepped its authority by making no attempt to apply its controversial developer donation ban only to state elections, the High Court heard on Wednesday.
Commonwealth solicitor-general Stephen Donaghue QC, acting for the Federal Government, made the claim at the second day of the hearing into former LNP president Gary Spence’s attempt to overturn the ban.
If Mr Spence’s case is successful, property developers would again be able to donate to political parties in Queensland as long as they were not doing so specifically for a state and council election campaign
Mr Donaghue said State Governments had a right to set laws for state elections, but any attempt to regulate federal elections was going too far.
“The problem with these laws is that Queensland made no attempt to prevent its laws from overreaching into the space of Commonwealth interests,” he said.
“They can regulate their own elections, they can regulate council elections, but they can’t regulate federal elections.
“The problem in this case is that Queensland made no attempt to frame its electoral laws to recognise the fact that when you talk about elections … one does not just talk about state elections.
“It has to frame its law … in a way that doesn’t extend beyond the legitimate state interests to regulate federal elections.”
Mr Donaghue argued that the ban should only apply to donations made specifically or to be used specifically for state electoral purposes.
He said they should not apply to general donations, not specified for state and federal purposes, as long as they were going to a federally regulated political party.
The hearing will continue Thursday.
‘You’ve lost two licences, and you’re only a learner’
A learner driver copped an earful from an Ipswich magistrate over his astonishing accumulation of demerit points.
‘Night beautiful’: Mum accused of attempted murder
A mum accused of trying to murder her four-year-old daughter - by 'gassing' her in a car - has been sentenced for breaching her bail conditions by spending time with the girl.