Former LNP leader Deb Frecklington tied to suspect fundraisers

Liberal National Party fundraisers under investigation by Queensland’s electoral watchdog were ­allegedly organised out of the then opposition leader’s office.

Former LNP leader Deb Frecklington. Picture: Dan Peled

Liberal National Party fundraisers under investigation by Queensland’s electoral watchdog were ­allegedly organised out of the then opposition leader’s office in contravention of official guidelines.

Documents show attendee lists were generated in the office of then opposition leader Deb Frecklington for the fundraisers last year, held in the homes and businesses of LNP supporters.

Several LNP sources said the invitations were also created by opposition staff and sent out from her office.

Emails, obtained by The Australian, were also sent out from Ms Frecklington’s office that dis­cussed donations with donors.

It was revealed this week that the Electoral Commission of Queensland has ramped up its investigation into the fundraisers in 2019 and last year that allegedly raised money from property developers, who are banned from political donations in the state.

Almost a year after being alerted to the fundraisers, the ECQ has questioned LNP officials and ­donors about the events that are suspected to have raised at least $150,000 in donations.

Federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton was a guest speaker, along with Ms Frecklington, at several of the events. The fund­raisers were organised without the knowledge of LNP headquarters amid tensions between the parliamentary and organisational wings of the party.

Veteran LNP state director Michael O’Dwyer, who resigned this year, alerted the ECQ last year to concerns about possible electoral law breaches after discovering MPs, including Ms Freck­lington and backbencher Dan Purdie, were involved in fundraising events attended by developers.

The ECQ, which refuses to comment about its investigation, has frozen tens of thousands of dollars in funds held in the branch accounts of several state MPs.

Among documents obtained by The Australian is an attendee list that includes the names and contact details of developers that was generated in Ms Frecklington’s office. The event was held in the home of an LNP supporter.

Ms Frecklington has repeatedly referred questions about the ECQ probe to LNP HQ, which says it cannot comment.

Several LNP sources told The Australian that invitations were created in Ms Frecklington’s office. “Her staff were instructed to put these things together, the invitations … and who was coming,’’ one insider said.

“A lot of this was done in the opposition’s office, using its ­resources.’’

Under the official guidelines of the Opposition Handbook, ­“government-funded telecommunications” and other resources are not to be used to support private business.

LNP MP and spokesman for “Integrity in Government” Fiona Simpson told The Australian on Wednesday that any fundraising activities should not be conducted in any taxpayer funded office.

Ms Simpson was asked about the ECQ investigation and documents obtained by The Australian during an interview, initiated by her motion in parliament for the Palaszczuk government to release polling on its Covid response.

Asked if an opposition office should be allowed to organise a fundraiser, Ms Simpson said: “No.”

“Party stuff should be done by the party and your formal offices shouldn’t be using taxpayer resources for any campaign or in relation to donations.”

Ms Simpson said she “no information” about the use of Ms Frecklington’s office to organise fundraisers.

In parliament, Treasurer Cameron Dick said revelations in The Australian about the ECQ investigation were particularly significant because the allegations emerged from the LNP.

“They are coming from within the LNP,’’ he said. “The alle­gations are coming from current and former LNP members.

“It reminds us that the LNP are not sending in their best and brightest when their former state director had to write to LNP MPs to say ‘Don’t break the law’.”

Last year, it was revealed Mr O’Dwyer had first written to LNP MPs warning them against ­attending private fundraisers and of his concerns they were being ­attended by developers.