Developer donation ban to be pushed through

NEW laws banning developer donations are expected to be signed off by Cabinet today and introduced into State Parliament as early as this week in a further sign Labor is readying for the State Election.

It is understood Cabinet will be asked to consider new laws today as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s response to the Crime and Corruption Commission’s damning Operation Belcarra report into the 2016 council elections, which included the Gold Coast City Council election.

The CCC has recommending banning developer donations among 31 reforms to clean up the local government arena after finding the breaking of the current laws was so widespread it would be hard to prosecute those who were caught out.

Whether the new donation laws will be declared urgent and debated during this week’s parliamentary sittings, however, is not known.

It comes as speculation continues that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could call the State Election within weeks, with some predicting November 18 as a possible date.