Calls to cull union gifts
A FORMER Townsville councillor and a Townsville developer have called on the State Government to ban political donations from unions if developers’ gifts are prohibited.
The comments follow the Government yesterday committing to ban developer donations to local and state politicians.
The Crime and Corruption Commission made 31 recommendations following its Operation Belcarra investigation into allegations of corruption at council elections in 2016.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the changes would go through the full committee process, meaning they could take six weeks or more to be considered.
“My Government will endorse all recommendations in the report, supporting some in full and others in principle,” Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament.
The commitment came just hours before former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale received six extra criminal charges, including official corruption, from the CCC.
Former Townsville deputy mayor Tony Parsons said if the Government was fair dinkum they would also ban union donations.
He said the team of Mayor Jenny Hill had received significant donations from unions.
Mr Parsons was also critical of the CCC inquiry, claiming they had not finished the job.
A Townsville developer, who did not want to be identified, agreed that donations from developers could amount to “buying favours” but also believed union donations should be banned.
“The whole thing with the donations, I think it’s wrong. The majority of developers are buying favours. Why else would you give money?” the developer said.
He also believed some developers filtered money through unions when making donations to obscure where the money was coming from.
Team Jenny Hill lists donations from the Australian Workers Union, the CFMEU, The Services Union, United Voice Qld Branch and Plumbers Union Qld in its disclosure returns for the 2016 Townsville City Council election.
The biggest single donor listed in returns lodged by Team Jenny Hill and the opposing conservative- aligned Jayne Arlett Team was Ipswich developer Wingate Properties, which provided $ 35,000 to Team Jenny Hill and $ 35,000 and $ 38,830.38 to Jayne Arlett Team.
Team Jenny Hill declared total gifts of $ 148,360 from 49 people and three loans totalling $ 35,000, while Jayne Arlett Team declared total gifts of $ 299,330.38 from 54 people.
Cr Hill could not be contacted for comment.
Mr Pisasale has been ordered to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court next month when the CCC will allege the corruption charge relates to corrupt payments made to him by a property developer.