Qld integrity report: Concerns over blurred lines with lobbyists on campaign

As a Labor-linked lobbyist vows not to assist in the 2024 state election campaign, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to rule out dealing with such operatives.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to say whether the Government will still deal with lobbyists who worked on her party’s state election campaign, as Labor-aligned lobbyist Evan Moorhead vowed he wouldn’t help out again in 2024.

A senior Labor source revealed there were a number of people within the party who had been concerned about a “blurring of responsibilities” when Mr Moorhead and Cameron Milner worked on the 2020 campaign.

“You can understand why they were assisting with the campaign because they were previously successful party officials,” the source said.

“But there are a range of people who were ­concerned about the blurring of responsibilities.

“Many people questioned at the last election their advice around likely target vote changes.”

In his report about the Government’s integrity and accountability, Professor Peter Coaldrake recommended banning lobbyists from being political campaigners, which Ms Palaszczuk has accepted.

The report also says: “If an individual plays a substantive role in the election campaign of a prospective government, they should be banned from engaging in lobbying for the next term of office.”

It followed revelations that Mr Moorhead, a director at Anacta Strategies, and Mr Milner, a director at Next Level Strategic Services, worked on Labor’s 2020 election campaign.

Labor strategist turned lobbyist Evan Moorhead

Both are former Labor state secretaries.

Ms Palaszczuk did not hold a press conference on Wednesday in the wake of the report, citing dental surgery that could not be delayed. She did not answer questions via email, including whether her govern­ment would continue to deal with lobbyists who worked on the election campaign.

Her office said she would take questions on Thursday.

Professor Coaldrake made several recommendations around lobbying, including having the auditor-general audit the lobbying register, ministerial diaries and records to ensure they were being complied with.

He also said all professionals offering paid lobbying services should be registered as lobbyists and both ministers and their staff member’s diaries should be published.

An Anacta spokesman said yesterday the firm welcomed the recommendations, as they would strengthen Queensland’s integrity framework and provide clarity for the lobbying industry.

“Importantly, more forms of lobbying will now be captured by the register, which is a win for transparency,” he said.

“We’ve always followed the regulations that govern the work we do, when those rules change we will continue to abide by them.

“Based on the recommendations in Professor Coaldrake’s review and the Premier’s acceptance of them, Mr Moorhead will not work on the next state election campaign.”

Mr Milner could not be reached for comment.