Going underground: Ban could lead to ‘brown paper bags’

BANNING developer political donations will only push the problem underground, according to Local Government Association of Queensland boss Greg Hallam.

But the state’s corruption watchdog maintains 31 recommendations from its Operation Belcarra report, including the donation ban, will only make it harder to engage in corrupt conduct.

Apart from the difficulty in defining the term developer, Mr Hallam warned prohibiting their donations could mean they were funnelled to candidates in other ways.

“They (developers) would cease to give donations but that person could get made a consultant,” Mr Hallam said. “Or worse yet, we could get brown paper bags.”

However, Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran said if all the 31 recommendations from the Operation Belcarra report were combined, it would make the “whole system infinitely more transparent”.

“Anyone seeking to avoid the transparency will be taking a far greater risk and in taking that risk are likely to be uncovered,” Mr MacSporran said.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully backed the developer donation ban.

But he raised concerns independent mayoral candidates would struggle to raise enough funds to run a proper campaign.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, whose campaign was self-funded, said he supported a recommendation to cap the amount candidates could spend on their campaigns.

“I like the idea of spending limits but set the limit enough so people can get out there and get their message heard,” Cr Tate said.