Ex-mayor Pisasale faces more charges

Queensland’s corruption watchdog has slapped six more charges on former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale is facing six more charges from Queensland’s corruption watchdog over allegedly accepting money from a property developer.

Mr Pisasale, 66, was yesterday issued a notice to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 7 over the latest of 11 charges stemming from a wide-ranging Crime and Corruption Commission investigation.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed yesterday her cabinet had voted to ban developer donations at both local and state government levels at the urging of the CCC.

However, it is not certain whether the ban will come into effect ahead of the looming state election, which must be held before May.

Mr Pisasale is accused of official corruption, two counts of fraud, misconduct in public office, perjury committed during an investigative hearing and possession of a restricted drug.

The CCC alleged the corruption charge relates to payments allegedly made by a property developer who has yet to be named.

The latest allegations follow earlier charges of extortion, two counts of attempting to pervert justice, and two other serious charges, which Mr Pisasale has said he will fight.

The new charges are the latest to compound a growing headache for Ipswich City Council as the CCC’s investigation unfolds.

Council staff charged since September include chief executive Jim Lindsay (official corruption), chief operating officer Craig Maudsley (official misconduct), former chief executive Carl Wulff (official corruption), council contractor Wayne Innes (official corruption, official misconduct, breach of bail, and fraud).

The investigation has also led to charges against Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo, Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie and a Melbourne woman.

A spokeswoman for Ms Palaszczuk said legislation banning developer donations was being drafted and she could not say when it would be introduced to parliament, which is sitting this week. The ban will be based on similar NSW legislation.

She said Labor had stopped accepting donations from property developers on Friday, four days after it received $33,500 from Consolidated Properties Group.