Ipswich mayor Paula Pisasale defends $220k campaign donations in election probe

A COLOURFUL Queensland mayor has defended the $220,000 he received in donations from developers before being re-elected.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale addresses media after giving evidence at the Crime and Corruption Commission hearing in Brisbane. Picture: Claudia Baxter

A COLOURFUL Queensland mayor has inadvertently likened himself to God in a public probe into local government elections by the state’s corruption watchdog.

Paul Pisasale received $220,000 in election campaign donations from 76 donors, largely property developers, during his election campaign last year, which he won with a whopping 83 per cent of the vote.

During a public examination by the Crime and Corruption Commission in Brisbane on Wednesday, the Ipswich mayor insisted he did not exploit his leadership position to treat the donors favourably.

Mr Pisasale said his campaign donors were akin to charitable churchgoers.

“People give to churches but they don’t expect divine intervention,” he said.

Despite the statement, however, Mr Pisasale said he could not remember who all his campaign donors were, “because there were so many of them.”

It prompted counsel assisting the inquiry, Glen Rice, QC, to question how he could ensure there was no conflict of interest if he was unable to recall the donors.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale after giving evidence at the public corruption probe in Brisbane. Photo: Claudia Baxter

Mr Pisasale has previously been cleared by an investigation by Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission but was giving evidence at a hearing conducted by the corruption watchdog this week.

The investigative body launched Operation Belcarra last year following a spike in funding and disclosure allegations against candidates who ran in the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay and Ipswich council elections.

Queensland’s local government system is predominantly made up of independents, with the exception of the Brisbane City Council.

Mr Pisasale, a Labor Party member of 25 years, said he did not receive any political donations during his campaign.

“I’m a long-term member of the Labor Party but it has no influence and it has had no influence in how I do my job,” he told the hearing.

Mr Pisasale denied colluding with other independent candidates who promoted their support for him on their how to vote cards.

He told the hearing all candidates were welcome to use his image, but he did not share the cost of their campaign.

“All candidates knew they were able to support me for mayor if they wanted to on their how-to-vote card,” he said.

“As the mayor I didn’t want to be seen as supporting anyone totally.”

The hearing continues.