Amanda Stoker faces conflict claims over husband’s Queen’s Wharf role

Finance Minister Ros Bates has defended her deputy after questions were raised about the appointment of Amanda Stoker's husband to the troubled $3.6bn Brisbane development.

State MP Amanda Stoker and her husband Adam. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Conflict of interest concerns have been raised after the husband of state assistant minister for finance Amanda Stoker was appointed to the position of secretary of the consortium behind Brisbane Queen’s Wharf development earlier this year.

Finance Minister Ros Bates played down suggestions the connection to her deputy had impacted any discussions her department had with the troubled Star Entertainment Group, Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium while grilled by the opposition during budget estimates.

Former federal senator and first-term state MP for the seat of Oodgeroo, Ms Stoker was elevated to assistant minister after the Crisafulli Liberal National Party government assumed government last year.

Shannon Fentiman at Queensland Parliament's red chamber for estimates Picture Annette Dew

Queensland Minister for Finance Ros Bates

Her lawyer husband, Adam Stoker, was appointed in April as the secretary to two company's linked to the $3.6bn Queens Wharf Precinct in the CBD, namely the Destination Brisbane Consortium Integrated Resort Holdings Pty Ltd and Destination Brisbane Consortium Integrated Resort Operations Pty Ltd.

As Star Entertainment alerted the ASX that planned deal to sell-off the Brisbane River-hugging project to its Hong Kong-based business partners before its deadline at the end of this week, Labor treasury spokeswoman Shannon Fentiman probed Ms Bates on whether Ms Stoker had declared the “huge conflict of interest” as the Finance Department met with the consortium about the operation’s financial future.

“(Assistant) Minister Stoker has had no contacts with Chow Tai Fook enterprises and the Far East consortium and I also note that her diaries are published monthly,” Ms Bates responded.

The minister added that Ms Stoker has an active conflict management plan in place.

Mr Stoker was appointed to the two organisations on April 28 this year, according to company extract information from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, tabled by Ms Fentiman, while also serving on the LNP state executive and chair of the Metro South Branch.

He is rumoured to be one of the people in contention to take over the party presidency from Lawrence Springborg, who will not be contesting his position at next month’s state convention.