Queensland Labor sides with unions on issue of influence

Queensland Deputy Premier ­Steven Miles has pushed back on an integrity watchdog report that raises concerns about politicians and bureaucrats being ‘improperly influenced’ by trade unions.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles at Rockhampton on Tuesday. Picture: Annette Dew

Queensland Deputy Premier ­Steven Miles has pushed back on an integrity watchdog report that raises concerns about politicians and bureaucrats being ­“improperly influenced” by trade unions.

The Crime and Corruption Commission this week released a report recommending union ­officials, in-house lobbyists and “other interest groups” declare any contact with the government when they seek to influence policy or law changes.

Under proposed reforms, which have divided industry groups and unions, state MPs and local government councillors would be required to publish information about their dealings with private sector representatives, ­including the subject matter of meetings.

Mr Miles said the government would consider how the CCC recommendations could be incorporated into transparency reforms already under way.

“I do want to say something though in defence of the work of our trade unions,” he said. “When you think about lobbying laws you think about the need to manage inappropriate influence in politics and there is nothing inappropriate about the work of our trade ­unions.

“Every single day they are ­advocating for the interests of ­ordinary working Queenslanders and it should be no surprise that the views they advocate very often align with the views of the Palaszczuk government because we are a government that represents ordinary working Queenslanders.”

LNP integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said given unions were big donors to Labor, there should be increased focus on their influence. Unions donated $765,000 to the Queensland ALP last year, representing about a third of all political donations made to the party in 2022.

“I will support any measure that is going to bring about transparency where there are decisions being made in the dark,” Ms Simpson said.

“This report puts a spotlight on the rotten relationship between the Palaszczuk government and the trade union movement in Queensland.”

Ms Simpson referred to a 2015 incident when former Electrical Trades Union boss Peter Simpson emailed voting instructions to then-energy minister Mark Bailey ahead of a cabinet meeting.

In its report, titled Influence and Transparency in Queensland’s Public Sector, the CCC said it had received submissions with examples of “suspected or alleged improper influence” on both state and local government decisions.

“This included concerns that elected officials and public sector employees were being improperly influenced through personal or political relationships, money or the activities of trade unions,” the report says. “Examples were also provided of elected officials and public sector employees attempting to leverage their role and ­associations for either their own personal benefit or the benefit of others.”

The CCC noted concerns that well-connected individuals, large ­organisations and unions may be getting “preferential outcomes ­because of their associations or ability to influence decision-­makers.”

The Queensland Council of Unions and Local Government Association of Queensland criticised the proposed reforms, saying they were unnecessary and would undermine advocacy work.

The CFMEU, the Pharmacy Guild and Queensland Resources Council backed enhanced transparency measures.

A CCC spokeswoman said currently unions, professional bodies and non-profit organisations were exempt from registering and disclosing influencing activities.