Tate blasts unions

MAYOR Tom Tate has used the Crime and Corruption Commission inquiry into council elections to give unions a verbal bashing about their role in supporting candidates.

In a strongly worded submission to CCC chairman Alan MacSporran QC, Councillor Tate argued that any ban on developer donations should extend to union financial backing.

He said rival mayoral candidate Penny Toland was the highest donor-funded candidate in the March 2016 poll, with most of her backing from trade unions.

“It was subsequently shocking to learn that these campaign contributions were not even disclosed on the candidate’s post-election return and came to light only when reviewing third party returns. Surely this gives rise to concerns by the CCC,” Cr Tate wrote.

Regarding the CCC’s finding that there was unfair competition between candidates, Cr Tate said unions should be treated in the same way as developers.

“If developers are to be banned from donating to candidates then surely fairness dictates that union contributions should be similarly banned, given these organisations are frequently operating in the same industry sector as developers,” he wrote.

Cr Tate acknowledged most developer donations were provided to LNP-aligned candidates but noted that all union funding went to Labor and leftaligned candidates.

“What is being mooted is one side of the political spectrum being banned from receiving a significant source of donated funds while the other side remains free to access donations from its own traditional source of funding,” he said. “This would entrench an injustice and skew the democratic process.”

Property Council Queensland Executive Director Chris Mountford said yesterday all businesses, environmental groups, community groups and unions should be treated equally when it comes to donations.

IF DEVELOPERS ARE TO BE BANNED FROM DONATING TO CANDIDATES THEN SURELY FAIRNESS DICTATES THAT UNION CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE SIMILARLY BANNED MAYOR TOM TATE

“While the Property Council does not donate to any political party, we take the view that regardless of occupation or sector, people should be treated equally under the law,” Mr Mountford said.

“If we start singling out individuals or groups, where will it end, and how will the community have confidence that the definitions and delineations are relevant?”

But the Greens backed a ban on property developer donations. Brisbane-based councillor Jonathan Sri welcomed the CCC report, calling it a valuable win after years of campaigning by the Greens.