DEB FRECKLINGTON

Influence of unions a massive concern

IT is clear that the Palaszczuk Labor Government is owned by trade union bosses – lock, stock and barrel.

We’ve seen it with Labor’s ongoing rail fail because Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refuses to pull her union paymasters into line.

We’ve seen it with the backchannel communication between Palaszczuk Ministers and their unions requesting favours and calling the shots.

And we’ve seen it with constant special deals for the CFMEU on construction sites, driving up the cost of new units and housing for every day Gold Coasters.

Union bosses get special treatment and unfettered access to this Government, even choosing which Labor Ministers will sit around the Cabinet table and which ones can and can’t stand for election. The unions fund Labor and expect everything in return.

Yet, Annastacia Palaszczuk does not see this as undue influence.

The largest and oldest vested interest is that between Labor and the trade union movement.

This is why my team and I called for the donation ban to be extended to those from trade union employee organisations.

But Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor shut it down. They shut it down to keep their union mates happy.

The LNP believes that corruption has no place in any level of government in Queensland.

That is why we support the CCC recommendations that stem from the Belcarra report relating to local government corruption.

But what Annastacia Palaszczuk has done is well beyond the CCC’s recommendations and is purely and simply for political gain.

Why should one section of our community be targeted by the Palaszczuk Government and yet the incredible influence unions have over the Labor Party be absolutely ignored by these proposed laws?

Our democracy should be a level playing field for all candidates and parties, free from vested interests.