Qld minister and councillors face same penalties under new integrity offences

New integrity offences on the way for Cabinet Ministers in the wake of the saga over Jackie Trad’s investment property will carry the same penalties for MPs as they will for Queensland’s councillors.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe addressed new integrity offences for Cabinet Ministers and councillors. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

NEW integrity offences on the way for Cabinet Ministers in the wake of the saga over Jackie Trad’s investment property will carry the same penalties for MPs as they will for Queensland’s councillors.

The Crime and Corruption Commission last month recommended a new offence for Ministers who fail to declare a conflicts of interest as well as an offence for those caught not updating their Register of Interest.

It comes after clearing Ms Trad of any corrupt conduct or dishonesty over her failure to declare an investment property purchased by her husband in the Cross River Rail corridor.

The Deputy Premier was stripped of responsibility for Cross River Rail by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, however, for breaching the cabinet and ministerial handbooks by not properly declaring the home.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe told the House this afternoon the Government would be amending planned new conflict of interest and register offences for councillors — arising out of the CCC’s Operation Belcarra council probe — so they match the watchdog’s recommended offences on for Ministers.

The changes will be form part of “future legislation”, he said.

The Government has promised to bring the new offences to the House before the end of the year.

“On September 6 this year the CCC handed down six new recommendations in relation to managing conflicts of interest and registers of interest for cabinet ministers and members of the Queensland Parliament,” Mr Hinchliffe told the House this afternoon as debate began on the latest tranche of Belcarra reforms.

“The CCC recommendations specifically mentioned aligning the obligations of elected officials in State Government with the obligations of elected officials in local government consistent with the recommendations for local government made by the CCC arising out of Operation Belcarra.”

“As a result of these new recommendations the conflict of interest and register of interest provisions in the Bill will be removed.

“These provisions will be amended to align with the new legislative regime to regulate ROIs and COIs of Cabinet Ministers and will form part of future legislation.”