Public may never see integrity commissioner’s report on Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens’ link to Gold Coast cableway

THE integrity commissioner’s ruling on Ray Stevens’ involvement in a cableway proposal will not be revealed unless the Mermaid MP reveals it himself.

DOCUMENTS showing the integrity commissioner’s ruling on Mermaid MP Ray Stevens’ involvement in a cableway proposal will never see the light of day unless he chooses to release them himself.

Mr Stevens claims Commissioner Richard Bingham cleared him of any conflict of interest, but has repeatedly refused to show anyone but former premier Campbell Newman the correspondence that proves it.

Even new Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk cannot compel Mr Stevens or the commissioner to release the decision — or even reveal what information the MP supplied to allow him to make it.

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Ray Stevens’ involvement in a cableway proposal will never see the light of day unless he chooses to release it himself.

A statement from Ms Palaszczuk’s office said the MP, who has dodged questions for months, was using the parliamentary integrity process “as a shield” and called on Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg to step in.

“Mr Springborg should do what Mr Newman didn’t, and order Mr Stevens to release all information he gave to and received from the Integrity Commissioner in relation to his business activities around the cableway,” the statement said.

“As has been well documented, only the MP who requests and receives advice from the Integrity Commissioner can release it publicly, as Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates did during the last term.”

However, Mr Springborg himself is “not aware” of the commissioner’s decision and did not answer questions on whether he would push for its release, or on who Mermaid Beach constituents should talk to if they were concerned about the proposal.

“Mr Springborg is not aware of the Integrity Commissioner’s advice,” a spokeswoman said. “Mr Stevens no longer holds a position in Government.”

Mr Stevens is the sole director of a member company of Gold Coast Skyride and he has refused since last year to detail his stake or role in the $100 million proposal for one of the region’s most sensitive environmental areas.

He did not return the Bulletin’s calls yesterday.

Quizzed by a journalist during last month’s election campaign, Mr Stevens was famously filmed waving his arms and dancing side-to-side before making a quacking duck beak with his hand.

Quizzed by a journalist during last month’s election campaign, Mr Stevens was filmed waving his arms and dancing side-to-side before making a quacking duck beak with his hand.

Despite the secrecy in this case, Ms Palaszczuk does not believe the process needs to be changed for better transparency.

“It’s crucial that MPs can have confidential discussions with the Integrity Commissioner on issues of importance,” her statement said.

“The Labor Government again calls on Mr Stevens to release that information.”