Jim Soorley would know people “well up the food chain,” restaurateur in lobbying claim told
A restaurateur looking to hire a lobbyist was told by an associate that former Brisbane major Jim Soorley would know “the right people well up the food chain.” Mr Soorley was at the time prohibited from lobbying work.
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Jim Soorley was introduced to a restaurateur looking to hire a lobbyist after it was suggested to one of his associates that the Labor heavyweight would know “the right people well up the food chain,” emails handed to corruption officials reveal.
The Courier-Mail can reveal a Brisbane town planner offered to make an introduction to Mr Soorley for a restaurant owner who was seeking a lobbyist to sort out an issue with the State Government.
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Mr Soorley was then not a registered lobbyist and was prohibited from lobbying work under state policy due to his position as chairman of Government Owned Corporation CS Energy.
The former Brisbane Lord Mayor has denied allegations he engaged in illegal lobbying activities and has insisted in a legal letter that he was paid $2500 by the restaurant owner for advice not lobbying.
Copies of emails handed to the Crime and Corruption Commission by former Wilsons Boathouse restaurant owner Neil Jedid as part of his complaint about Mr Soorley reveal he was introduced to the influential Labor figure after an approach was made to a town planner who knew Mr Soorley.
At the time, Mr Jedid had been seeking a long-term lease over state-owned land the restaurant occupied at Manly on Brisbane’s bayside and wanted the help of a lobbyist.
In the February 2018 email, local architect Michael Jullyan contacts Brisbane town planner Lochlan Mummery, of Urban Strategies, on Mr Jedid’s behalf, stating: “Neil needs some assistance with a lobbyist and negotiation over the lease...”
Mr Jullyan continues in the email that it had been suggested to him that “you and Jim Soorley would be the right team and know the right people well up the food chain to have some discussions with over the in principle extension of the lease to a long term lease that would ultimately result in redevelopment of the site under a more value added tenure.”
He asks for Mr Mummery to make contact with Mr Jedid.
Mr Mummery replies that he was “happy to make an introduction to Jim Soorley for you,” adding he had been in touch with Mr Soorley two weeks earlier on another project,” a copy of the email shows.
Mr Soorley was not copied on the emails, and The Courier-Mail does not suggest he was aware of the conversations between Mr Jullyan and Mr Mummery prior to meeting Mr Jedid.
In his CCC complaint, Mr Jedid says that Mr Mummery then recommended he contact Mr Soorley directly and Mr Jedid said he phoned Mr Soorley the same day.
Mr Mummery and Mr Soorley did not return calls or respond to emailed questions yesterday.
Mr Jedid, whose restaurant closed last week after the State Government struck an agreement for a new leaseholder, has taken court action to reclaim his $2500.
He alleges Mr Soorley engaged in “deceptive conduct” by collecting the cash while parked in the carpark of his restaurant and promising to lobby Transport Minister Mark Bailey and then-Deputy Premier Jackie Trad at a time he was not a registered lobbyist.
Mr Soorley has previously denied carrying out any lobbying since de-registering in October 2015.
Third-party lobbyists must be registered with the Integrity Commissioner, while Mr Soorley’s position as chairman of state-owned energy company CS Energy also prohibits him from lobbying.
Ms Trad has denied having any contact with Mr Soorley over Mr Jedid’s issue, while Mr Bailey told the newspaper that Mr Soorley had asked him about Mr Jedid’s issue and he had “told him it was a commercial matter between Mr Jedid and my department.”
He refused to elaborate.
The introduction details come after the newspaper revealed yesterday that Mr Soorley was being paid a retainer by a developer to advise on matters including “government consultation” on Sekisui House’s controversial West Village apartment development.
Mr Soorley was retained up until mid-2017, after de-registering as a lobbyist in October 2015.
The West Village project was ‘called-in’ by Ms Trad in 2016 under powers in which the state takes over the approval process. It was approved in November 2016.
Energy Minister Anthony Lynham and Treasurer Cameron Dick yesterday said it would be inappropriate to comment on whether they supported Mr Soorley staying in the CS Energy chairman role as the matter had been referred to the CCC.
“The Government expects all government-owned corporation board members to meet the obligations the government places on them,” he said.
A spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a complaint had been made to the CCC and it was inappropriate to comment.