Controversial Fadden MP Stuart Robert rejects claims of Sunland speech for donations

CONTROVERSIAL federal MP Stuart Robert has rejected claims he gave a parliamentary speech defending a Gold Coast developer in exchange for political donations.

The first of the Commonwealth Games facilities was opened this morning at Coomera where Gymnastics and the Netball final will be held — Member for Fadden Stuart Robert Photo: David Clark

CONTROVERSIAL federal MP Stuart Robert has rejected claims he gave a parliamentary speech defending a Gold Coast developer in exchange for political donations.

Mr Robert, who represents the Gold Coast electorate of Fadden, has come under fire after it was reported entire chunks of a 2012 speech to parliament were written by Simone Holzapfel, a lobbyist for developer Sunland.

Simone Holzapfel of PR company SHAC.

Today, he hit out at the suggestion he gave the speech to secure a donation from the developer to Queensland’s Liberal National Party ahead of the 2013 federal election.

In a statement, Mr Robert said suggestions he had supported Sunalnd in exchange for donations were “incorrect and scurrilous”.

“I have fought hard for many of the major projects that are transforming our city, including delivering Commonwealth Games infrastructure, light rail and major movie productions,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Stuart Robert depart Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House, Canberra. Picture Gary Ramage

“Four years ago I stood up as a local member and gave a short speech in Parliament because I felt Sunland were receiving one-sided criticism in the media.

“I was informed by various sources. Due to the complexities of the issues involved it was important to be precise with language. I delivered my own speech.”

Federal member for Fadden Stuart Robert Photo: Richard Gosling

He said the donation came eight months after his speech and had been on the public record for years.

“To draw a link between an issue I supported as a local MP and an unrelated and fully disclosed donation over eight months later is an outrageous and offensive assertion,” he said.

The speech, delivered in November 2012, defended Sunland as the developer faced criticism over a Dubai legal dispute that resulted in the wrongful imprisonment of Australian Marcus Lee for five years.

Mr Lee’s lawyer John Sneddon on Wednesday said the speech could have jeopardised his client’s defence.

“We thought it was just a bizarre thing to do,” he told ABC radio. “It was something that could have resulted in the Dubai authorities believing that any conviction of my client would carry the imprimatur of the Australian government.” But Mr Robert said he thought it was important to stand up for the Gold coast company.

Member for Fadden Stuart Robert watches as counting begins at his election after-party at Labrador AFL Club on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

“Following two earlier speeches delivered by a Senator colleague that I also felt were one-sided, I believed that if one side of the issue could be aired in Parliament, the other side could be as well. That is only fair.”

It comes months after special investigators were appointed to probe ­allegations of corruption in the Gold Coast City Council ­elections.

The inquiry was launched after the Bulletin published about 60 reports in three months under a “Trojan Council” banner which exposed an LNP bloc during the independent March 19 poll.

The Bulletin understands the investigation will focus on a money trail between candidates, including the separate donations of $30,000 to independent candidates Felicity Stevenson and Kristyn Boulton from Mr Robert’s Fadden Forum.