Qld political donors revealed as Labor brings back ‘cash for access’

Ministers have brushed off questions as the Queensland Labor government reboots a controversial corporate donor program.

Treasurer Cameron Dick in Question Time this week. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Government ministers have downplayed the Labor Party’s reboot of a controversial corporate donor program designed to help the party organisation raise funds.

Queensland Labor has revived and rebadged its cash-for-access program, less than a year since Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ruled out her ministers attending the events — though only in a state conference setting.

Labor’s Queensland Business Partnership Roundtable involves corporate donors paying $10,000 annually with GST on top for access to events that include monthly “boardroom-style” lunches and dinners.

Treasurer Cameron Dick and Police Minister Mark Ryan brushed off questions about the integrity risks and whether they would attend the events.

Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders said the paid post-budget events and the Queensland Business Partnership Roundtable were “completely compliant” with law as per checks with the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

She said the Premier had last year written to her saying ministers would no longer be participating in “business observers” events at state conference, and this still wouldn’t happen.

Ms Flanders said the reboot of the business program was “in reaction to businesses who want to engage” but also to ensure the party had a “level playing field” with the LNP.

The LNP continued to run cash-for-access events, with its Solutions Queensland program. Top-tier memberships cost about $25,000.

Electoral Commission of Queensland data shows so far this year the LNP has logged $470,502 in donations to Labor’s $54,661.

The corporate donation program of both Labor and the LNP raise funds for the party organisation, rather than for elections.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said people were entitled to make donations to political parties and that he attended “all sorts of functions”.

“It’s not a surprise that political parties in this country fundraise,” he said.

“And I just remind everybody, that we have the most transparent political donation scheme in the country.”

Mr Dick said it was “not a problem” with him that people paid money to attend boardroom-style lunches and dinner organised by political parties.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said people “pay money to go to all sorts of functions” before defending Queensland’s transparent political donation process.

Ms Palaszczuk, at a press conference on Monday, said Labor’s post-budget fundraising lunch happened every year.

“All parties do that one,” she said.

“It’s not, you know, $20,000 or $30,000.”

Labor brought back the business observers program initially in the lead up to the 2015 election campaign after former Premier Anna Bligh scrapped it.