Queensland election: Watchdog warns of lobbyist risk

Queensland’s corruption watchdog has warned the lines between government, lobbyists, consultants, and business executives is blurring.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington visits East Coast Bullbars in Clontarf, Brisbane, to show her support for the manufacturing industry. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Queensland’s corruption watchdog has said the lines between government, lobbyists, consultants, and business executives are blurring, as Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington defends attending fundraisers with property developers banned from making political donations.

In an open letter to all October 31 election candidates, Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan MacSporran said the lead-up to an election was a “high-risk ­period” in which people could try to “buy influence” through ­donations and exploiting “personal associations”.

Mr MacSporran said the CCC was monitoring donations being made to political parties and candidates for “new and emerging corruption risks”.

“The CCC’s own intelligence assessment indicates that the lines between government and the private sector are blurring, with overlapping networks of associations involving consultants, influencers, lobbyists and executives,” he said.

A recent investigation by The Australian has uncovered the existence of “campaigner lobbyists” in Queensland — political players on both sides of politics who work to get governments re-elected and then profit from those administrations as lobbyists or owners of lobbying firms.

While Ms Frecklington has insisted she has no lobbyists working on her campaign, the LNP leader is bogged down in other integrity­­ ­issues, defending her attendance at several LNP fundraisers and business meetings with property developers.

One of the fundraisers was alleged to have occurred at the home of a Brisbane developer, where the hospitality could have been considered a donation or “gift in kind,” although there is no evidence the developers donated directly to the LNP.

National Retail Association chair Mark Brodie has hosted fund­raisers for the LNP, and attended an unpaid “business advisory forum” with Ms Frecklington and property developers on June 23 at the NRA offices.

The NRA donated $20,000 to the LNP on July 15.

On Tuesday, Mr Brodie, as chair of property development company Triumph Investment Group, was declared a non-prohibited donor by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

“The NRA vehemently rejects the suggestion we have circumvented donation laws, or helped others to do so. That claim is utterly unfounded,” he said.

“As an industry organisation, the association participates in political events with both Labor and the LNP, and we always act in strict accordance with the law.”

An LNP spokesman denied Ms Frecklington and the fundraising events had been “referred” to the ECQ, but conceded the party was in “ongoing discussions” with the commission.

Senior LNP sources have told The Australian “not one of the fundraisers was sanctioned by the party — that’s not normal”.

“It shows bad judgment from Deb, and arrogance from her ­office,” one source said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Ms Frecklington needed to explain who she was meeting with, and why. “There is a ban on property developer donations going to political parties,” she said. “That was a ban that my ­government proudly introduced.”

Ms Frecklington said she stood by her integrity. “Any donor who donates to political parties must complete a declaration form, it’s on the ECQ (website) for all to see,” she said.

“In relation to private dinners, I attend dinners all the time, I’m a politician, I attend supporters’ dinners, of course I do. It’s on the ECQ website that prohibited donors can attend fundraising events, they just cannot donate.”

Additional reporting: Michael McKenna, Jack McKay