Qld politics: Jarrod Bleijie referred to CCC over Maleny Manor row
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has been referred to the CCC over his participation in a court appeal for a Sunshine Coast development.
QLD Politics
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The Opposition has referred Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie to the Crime and Corruption Commission, arguing his participation in a court appeal for a Sunshine Coast development headed by a former LNP donor doesn’t pass the pub test.
Mr Bleijie’s office slammed the move as muckraking by Labor, reaffirming he was not personally involved in the court proceedings.
“This is a desperate attempt from a desperate Labor Opposition to muckrake and use the CCC for their political games,” a spokesman said.
“The Queensland government is not a decision maker in this process.
“The matter is before an independent court as a routine planning application.”
The Courier-Mail last week revealed the state government applied to participate in a court case appealing the Sunshine Coast Council’s rejection of a short-term accommodation development on rural land near Maleny Manor.
The development is being pursued by Presidential Capital Pty Ltd, on behalf of the Geoffrey Thomas family trust, and proposes six two-storey buildings for a total of 28 units at his popular wedding-venue property.
It is not suggested Mr Thomas has engaged in any wrongdoing.
It is understood the state government will offer a statement of support to the Brisbane Environment and Planning Court outlining how the development aligns with its tourism strategy.
Mr Bleijie was unapologetic over the decision, saying he was prepared to issue calls-in of other tourism-related proposals cut down by councils, including backing plans for hotels along Caloundra and Maroochydore and the Coochin Creek venue led by the prominent Comiskey developer family.
The Courier-Mail understands the call-in window for the Maleny development was too narrow, with Mr Bleijie instead allowing his state planner to apply to the court proceedings.
Opposition planning spokesman Cameron Dick said Mr Bleijie had not justified his conduct, and his claim that the Sunshine Coast needed more eco-tourism was a cop-out.
“We’ll await the umpire’s decision once this matter is referred to the CCC, but I don’t think Jarrod Bleijie’s actions passed the pub test, let alone any reasonable test that might be applied in relation to proper, fair and good government decision making,” he said.
“I think it’s a big cop out.
“There are plenty of projects here on the Sunshine Coast supported by the last Labor government in particular, that support the tourism product here on the Sunshine Coast.
“I think it is a very serious matter that a property development proposed by an LNP donor is being supported by the government.”
Mr Dick confirmed he and Opposition Leader Steven Miles officially wrote to the CCC on Wednesday afternoon.
The development application was put to Sunshine Coast Council on May 24, 2023.
Council in February voted down the proposal in favour of protecting the area’s rural character, citing conflicts with local planning schemes for rural areas and issues with landslide and scenic overlay codes.
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