Electoral donations take a hit

DEVELOPER donations to politicians and parties will be banned in Queensland retrospectively from yesterday after the Labor government introduced laws that will affect the upcoming state election.

As well as probably pushing the pending poll out to next year, the ban will create a minefield for the Liberal National Party opposition as Labor has already stopped receiving donations.

The donations ban was one of 31 recommendations from the Crime and Corruption Commission’s report into corruption at last year’s council elections.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk introduced the bill to parliament yesterday saying it built on her government’s push to increase transparency.

“My government has never wavered from the principle that elected officials must meet the community’s reasonable and legitimate expectation of integrity,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk also moved the bill go through the committee process and return to parliament by November 27, which could see it voted in that sitting week.