Crime and Corruption Committee hearing day two to include Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale

PROMINENT Queensland mayor Paul Pisasale is facing a grilling by the CCC after revelations his daughter’s business was paid by his re-election campaign. And his reponse is truly bizarre. FOLLOW DAY TWO LIVE

• Paul Pisasale bailed on extortion, assault charges
• CCC Day One: MP says he wanted to keep Labor out

IPSWICH Mayor Paul Pisasale claims the first time he saw an invoice from his daughter for work done on his campaign was at a hearing today.

During day two of the Crime and Corruption Commission hearings into last year’s local election, Cr Pisasale was presented with the invoice from Zimmi Group, which is owned by his daughter Lisa Pisasale, for work she completed during his re-election campaign last year.

When he was given the invoice, Cr Pisasale told the hearing: “This is the first I’ve seen this.”

He said the markup from the approximate $32,000 cost seemed correct to him because the total cost was to cover wages and other expenses.

“I told her to use full commercial principles because I didn’t want any favours,” Cr Pisasale said.

He told the hearing the invoices were likely scrutinised by his team of people who worked for him.

During the hearing, Pisasale accused the Electoral Commission of Queensland of being understaffed after he sent them emails about how-to-vote cards that were not responded to.

“I’ve still got emails that I sent to the Electoral Commission that they haven’t responded to,” Cr Pisasale said.

He said he had submitted complaints about other candidates but he was yet to receive response with an outcome.

Earlier in today’s hearing, Cr Pisasale said he was unable to recall who had donated to him “because there were so many of them.”

Counsel assisting Glen Rice, QC, questioned how he could ensure there was no conflict on interest if he was unable to recall the donors.

Cr Pisasale responded by telling the hearing his staff checked his register of interest before every council meeting to ensure there were no conflicts.

“At the end of the day, if it’s something coming up in council, I always check my register,” Cr Pisasale said. “I always do that. I have staff checking that because we’re very meticulous on that.”

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale says it is “absolutely fantastic this is happening to clear up all the innuendo and cloud” that hangs over Ipswich. Picture: Jack Tran

Cr Pisasale’s disclosure return lists that he received $221,000 in gifts from 76 different donors during last year’s local election campaign.

The popular mayor, who was returned with a clear majority last year, denied he had run as part of an undeclared group despite appearing on several how-to-vote cards.

Cr Pisasale said candidates understood they could support him but he never helped pay for election material where his image was used.

The last Ipswich local government election was the most vitriolic in memory with accusations flying thick and fast of corrupt behaviour from certain quarters.

In December the CCC recommended the government consider making it an offence for any person to publicise allegations of corrupt conduct against a councillor or candidate during a local government election period, without first notifying the CCC and allowing at least three months to find whether the allegations have merit.

Cr Pisasale said he was looking forward to his appearance today at the hearing and that he would back any legislation to stop candidates conducting smear campaigns during elections.

“I am very happy to appear and I think it is absolutely fantastic this is happening to clear up all the innuendo and cloud that hangs over this city due to failed candidates,” he said.

“I am sick and tired of the lack of strong legislation to protect good candidates from people with axes to grind and I want to make sure that legislation protects candidates and their families. I ran my election as a fair independent and we ran our campaign straight down the line with a great crew of volunteers behind me.”