Sarah Elks
Queensland LNP donation grab defies caps, cash-for-access ban
G’day readers and welcome to this week’s edition of Feeding the Chooks, your regular look behind the scenes of Queensland politics.
CASH FOR ACCESS, NOT CAMPAIGN
When is a donation to a political party not a political donation? According to the LNP, it’s when the donor’s cash is used for keeping the lights on at party HQ, and not used for campaigning.
Queensland’s Opposition has revived its corporate observers program – now called Solutions Queensland – despite Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Labor government introducing strict donation caps last year and banning itself from cash-for-access events.
Under the new laws, political donations are capped at $6000 for candidates of the same party and $4000 for political parties.
Chooks has got its hands on the LNP’s new fundraising prospectus, and was bemused to see the party spruiking packages of $25,000+GST/year, $17,500+GST/year, $12,500+GST/year and $10,000+GST/year.
Corporates are being told this is not a breach of the new donation caps because the cash is not a political donation for the purposes of campaigning and winning elections, rather it would be used to fund the party administration.
If you cough up for the top tier of support – becoming a so-called “Solutions Partner” – the LNP says you’ll be entitled to a bucketload of tickets at cash-for-access events during the year.
“Two tickets to QLD Leaders Forum, four tickets to Corporate Observers, two tickets to all Solutions Network events and two tickets for four Solutions Strategy lunches for $25,000 + GST,” the glossy booklet from LNP president Lawrence Springborg says.
“I can once again confirm that membership of this program does not constitute a political donation for the purposes of the electoral legislation introduced in July 2022.”
The “Solutions QLD Partnership” also means the MC has to acknowledge the donor at events, the donor’s logo is displayed, and the donor is automatically seated at the head table.
And the bi-monthly Solutions QLD events are, by definition, cash-for-access fundraising.
“Solutions QLD is structured to create maximum opportunity for members and guests to engage with political leaders,” the booklet spruiks.
“Each function provides a mix of LNP MPs, senators and councillors addressing the latest economic, budgetary and political issues, followed by an open discussion and question time for attendees.”
After a public outcry, then Labor premier Anna Bligh banned the fundraisers in 2009 but they were resuscitated by Palaszczuk when she came to power in 2015.
Bligh’s ban came weeks after corruption-fighter Tony Fitzgerald warned Queensland was at risk of sliding back into its “dark past”.
“Access can now be purchased, patronage is dispensed, mates and supporters are appointed and retired politicians exploit their political connections to obtain success fees for deals between business and government,” Fitzgerald said in 2009.
“Neither side of politics is interested in these issues except for short-term political advantage.”
PALASZCZUK POOH-POOHS RECYCLED WATER
Annastacia Palaszczuk does not like talking about recycled water. Who can blame her; it has been one of the most divisive topics in Queensland politics in the past 20 years.
But she will soon be forced to dip her toes into the murky debate over whether recycled water should be used to top up southeast Queensland’s drinking water supply.
A report was handed to government in December warning an alternative water source is needed by 2030, a decade earlier than predicted, because of rapid population growth and new climate change modelling.
Cabinet is yet to consider a report, which proposes using recycled water in the region’s drinking supply or building a new desalination plant, costing up to $8bn.
Asked this week if Brisbane residents would be sipping on cold glass of recycled water by the time the opening ceremony kicks off for the 2032 Olympics, Palaszczuk replied: “There is no need for that at the moment, we have adequate supply.
“There is planning taking place at the moment and we will release our plans closer to the time but there is no need for recycled water at the moment.”
BIG MAC TO REPLACE SETTER
While Rob Setter might be unwilling to publicly confirm his looming departure as head of Queensland’s Public Sector Commission, senior bureaucrats are lining up to replace him.
Last week Chooks revealed that Setter is “retiring” after a tumultuous past year in which he was accused by the then integrity commissioner Nikola Stepanov of calling her “a bitch on a witch hunt”, which he denied.
Setter wouldn’t answer questions about his departure, saying he remained in the position and his contract didn’t end until later this year.
But he is going, and while his end date is later than first thought – now in early May – applications for the job have started to pour in.
The frontrunner to replace Setter is David Mackie, the current director-general of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
A veteran of DJAG – according to his LinkedIn page he first joined the department in 1990 – Mackie is well-respected within the public service and known as a bit of dapper dresser.
SPINNING AROUND
How many spinners is too many spinners?
Chooks notes Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning has a whopping 40 people in its strategic communications team, led by executive director and ALP media-whiz/stalwart Robert Hoge.
Yes, the department is in charge of planning the 2032 Olympics infrastructure, but still, 40 spinners?
Hoge is on the hunt for an EA, and says the comms team is at the “beating heart of some of the state’s most important work – liveability and housing affordability, energy transition, and building the infrastructure needed for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
Over in the Department of Resources, a recent photo posted on LinkedIn reveals a bulging 34-member communications team.
Chooks will look forward to even speedier responses to media inquiries in future.
CASHED-UP EVERGREENS
The Greens party wants its donors to give to the cause, even from beyond the grave.
In a recent survey of backers, the party revealed that “more and more supporters are leaving a gift to the Greens in their wills to make a powerful impact on our future”.
“We call these wonderful supporters EverGreens. Have you left the Greens a gift in your will?”
Well, have you?
SPOTTED #1
Queensland’s very own Kevin Rudd, former prime minister and Labor MP for Griffith – now held by the Greens – this week started his new job as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.
And one of the first things he did was to set up a new Twitter account @AmboRudd.
So far, its only got 1800 or so followers – compared to the 1.5 million following his original handle @MrKRudd.
SPOTTED #2
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and her DG Shaun Drummond made a visit to Queensland’s besieged DNA laboratory on Thursday afternoon.
The lab is undergoing a major restructure after serious failings were exposed in The Australian’s podcast series, Shandee’s Story, and a $6m public inquiry.
Three senior managers – Cathie Allen, Justin Howes and Paula Brisotto – all remain suspended while their lawyers fight out show cause notices issued by Queensland Health.
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