Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli sceptical of lobbyist loophole law change

Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli has shown scepticism towards Premier Steven Miles’s plan to retrospectively force lobbyists to declare meetings with shadow ministers.

Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Lachie Millard

David Crisafulli has flagged denying Steven Miles’s request for support to retrospectively force lobbyists to declare meetings with Liberal National Party shadow ministers, after the Opposition Leader insisted his frontbenchers have no decision-making powers.

The Queensland Premier wrote to Mr Crisafulli last month, requesting the opposition’s backing to close a loophole in state integrity laws that says lobbyists do not need to declare contact with LNP frontbenchers – apart from the leader and deputy Jarrod Bleijie – unless there are opposition staff present.

After shadow ministers’ diaries for March were released for the first time, it was revealed LNP-linked lobbying firms, including SAS Group, co-owned by former federal Nationals MP Larry Anthony, were exploiting the legal loophole.

Mr Miles told Mr Crisafulli that under the retrospective legislation – which has not been shared with the LNP – lobbyists would be required to declare all meetings with shadow ministers dating back to the 2020 election.

“I am loath to make this change retrospective without your support. However, I am sure you would agree the public deserves to know what secret lobbying activity has occurred over the last three years,” Mr Miles said.

Queensland Labor Premier Steven Miles. Picture: David Clark

But in a letter seen by The Australian, Mr Crisafulli wrote to lobbying watchdog Linda Waugh, seeking the Integrity Commissioner’s advice on whether lobbyists should declare meetings with committee chairs as well.

“Under our unicameral system, shadow ministers have little to no decision-making power,” he wrote. “In contrast, the committee chairs have the power to decide which legislation is recommended to pass the House along with strong powers to decide the direction of estimates hearings.

“If legislation is introduced to compel lobbyists to declare meetings with shadow ministers, should the legislation also compel the lobbyist to declare meetings with committee chairs?”

All committee chairs except that of the parliamentary crime and corruption committee are Labor MPs.

Mr Crisafulli also raises concerns about the retrospective nature of the proposed change to the law, which he said was already complicated.

The release of shadow ministerial diaries from April shows 15 meetings between shadow ministers and lobbyists, and six took advantage of the legal loophole and were not declared on the register.

In one meeting, lobbyist Lyndal Maloney, from GR Connect, organised and attended a meeting for top Bowen Coking Coal executives – including the executive chairman, CEO, legal counsel and chief operating officer – with shadow ministers Dale Last, Lachlan Millar, Bryson Head and Brent Mickelberg.

Senior LNP MPs Trevor Watts (shadow cabinet secretary) and Pat Weir (deputy opposition whip), and LNP Gregory candidate Sean Dillon, were present but the meeting was not declared on GR Connect’s lobbying register.