Queensland ALP: Property developer donates $33k

Queensland ALP received $33k from a major property developer on the same day the Premier promised to ban such political donations.

The Queensland ALP received $33,500 from a major property developer on the same day Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to ban political donations from developers. Picture: AAP

The Queensland ALP received $33,500 from a major property developer on the same day Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to ban political donations from developers.

Consolidated Properties Group Pty Ltd gave Labor $33,500 last Tuesday, as the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission released a landmark report recommending sweeping changes to local government, including that developer donations be banned.

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Hours after the CCC report was tabled in parliament, Ms Palaszczuk said she had a “moral obligation” to implement wideranging reforms and promised to ban developer donations at council and state government levels.

Consolidated Properties, which is involved in several major projects with the government, also gave $16,000 to Labor in September and $4000 in two donations last year.

The company gave $34,380 to the Liberal National Party this year.

Ms Palaszczuk took the proposed reforms to Cabinet today, but refused to answer questions about them. She is expected to tomorrow announce the changes, which will be introduced to parliament.

“As (CCC chair Alan MacSporran) said it’s a broken system, and it’s broken system that needs to be fixed,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Tuesday. “As the premier of this state, I have a moral obligation and a duty to the people of this state to ensure that they have absolute confidence in local government.”

Ms Palaszczuk refused to say today whether Labor would accept property developer donations ahead of the upcoming election, which can be called any time between now and May but is due early next year.

“Well, I’ll have more to say about that tomorrow,” she said.

“Cabinet considered our government response, I want to take it to caucus this afternoon and I’ll have more to say about that tomorrow.”

Labor state secretary Evan Moorhead said the party would “continue to comply with the laws governing political donations” — which allow property developer donations.

“We understand the government is preparing a response to (the CCC’s) Operation Belcarra and Labor will comply with any new measures as soon as they are announced,” he said.

The Australian understands Labor will stop accepting property developer donations once the Premier has outlined the specifics of her proposed reforms.

Ms Palaszczuk was asked today whether the new reforms would be passed through parliament before an election. She said they would have to go through the parliamentary committee process, which takes eight weeks.

“The election is due next year,” she said.

In the last two years, Queensland Labor has accepted many donations from property developers, including $68,300 from Springfield Land Corporation, $29,760 from Walker Corporation, $22,000 from Robina Group, $22,000 from Halcyon, and $11,000 from R & F Property.

In recent months, several property developers have donated $16,500 each to the LNP including the Commercial Asset Management Services, Village Retirement Group, Springfield Land Corporation and Eastcoast Holdings.