MP Rob Pyne to table more ‘concerning’ documents in Parliament
UPDATE: Independent Cairns MP Rob Pyne has tabled more documents in parliament relating to local government matters.
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Independent Cairns MP Rob Pyne has tabled more documents in parliament relating to local government matters.
The documents tabled include transcripts from Crime and Corruption Commission hearings for Operation Belcarra into local government fundraising and political donations.
Mr Pyne also claimed that the chair of the taskforce looking into the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s handling of last year’s council elections, former Brisbane lord mayor Jim Soorley, played a role in the Logan mayoral campaign, which is subject to a Crime and Corruption Commission hearing.
Several pages of documents tables by Mr Pyne relate to the CCC hearing into Logan Mayor Luke Smith’s fundraising for the campaign – although there is no evidence to suggest any of those named did anything improper.
Mr Pyne said politicians who were “fair dinkum” about transparency would not use complicated financial structures for fundraising purposes.
“Why would you seek to set up a shelf company?” he said.
Mr Pyne also backed his use of parliamentary privilege to table documents, which make serious accusations against former Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale but provide little evidence to back them up.
“If you look at the information in that document it has been covered in the media in the past, it’s verifiable,” he said.
“We don’t get up to make our own facts.”
Mr Soorley and Cr Smith’s office have been contacted for comment.
OVERNIGHT: Independent Member for Cairns Rob Pyne is expected to today table more documents on allegedly crooked councils, after explosive claims aired about former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale on Wednesday.
Mr Pyne yesterday said he had little direct knowledge of the claims he aired under parliamentary privilege about Mr Pisasale and was handed the controversial dirt sheet by another source.
T he Courier-Mail can reveal one of the key groups behind the document was the Ipswich Ratepayers and Residents Association. Mr Pyne, a former ALP member, defended his use of parliamentary privilege to table the documents, despite providing limited evidence to back up the claims.
“There’ll be more information tabled about systemic concerns about local government,” he said.
Mr Pyne said he had not compiled the document, which had come from another source.
“These are not my allegations. I’ve tabled it as a matter of tabling information in light of what’s happening with (the Crime and Corruption Commission’s) Operation Belcarra.”
Some claims in the document contain misspelt names, while others lack any detail. Some repeat stories previously aired in the media.
IRRA president Jim Dodrill yesterday admitted to helping compile the controversial document, saying it was “the tip of the iceberg” when it came to revelations of possible corrupt conduct in Ipswich.
“We did work with Rob (Pyne); we did contribute to it; we weren’t the only ones who contributed to it,” Mr Dodrill said.
Mr Pisasale, who resigned as mayor last week citing ill health, was not available for comment yesterday.
A document tabled by Mr Pyne on Wednesday flagged Mr Pisasale’s alleged links with developers and possible conflicts of interest involving councillors and staff.
His brother, fellow Ipswich Councillor Charlie Pisasale, said the personal attacks were impacting on Paul’s recovery.
“Mr Pyne should start to use his position in the best interests of Cairns and stop allowing himself to be used by political pawnbrokers who have links and agendas in Ipswich, and who are trying to influence the upcoming election,” he said.
Ipswich’s acting mayor Paul Tully, who was mentioned in the document, denied the claims and challenged Mr Pyne to provide evidence or resign.
“This is a very low act from the coward’s castle of Parliament,” he said.
A woman named in the tabled documents also lashed out at the MP.
“Mr Pyne’s comments say more about him than it does about those he is making the allegations about,” consultant Maxine Norsgaard said.
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