Attack front widens
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is facing another gruelling day in State Parliament today after yesterday’s acrimonious return to the House saw the besieged leader repeatedly defending the integrity of her government.
Weighed down by a dual integrity crisis, Ms Palaszczuk and her deputy Jackie Trad took heavy fire as the LNP ramped up efforts to see Ms Trad sacked over her controversial Woolloongabba property buy and the Premier’s chief-of-staff David Barbagallo sacked over a business development fund co-investment now under review.
In the Opposition’s latest tactics, Leader Deb Frecklington called into question the Ernst & Young audit ordered following revelations Fortress Capstone – a company part-owned by Mr Barbagallo – received a $267,500 taxpayer-funded co-investment under the lucrative Advance Queensland Business Development fund to develop a smartphone app.
It forced the Government to slap down suggestions of another conflict of interest.
“I refer the Premier to her director-general’s decision to appoint Ernst & Young to audit the payment to her chief-of-staff,” Ms Frecklington told the House during Question Time.
“I can now reveal that the partner from Ernst & Young was on the expert panel for Advance Queensland that advised on the establishment of the Business Development Fund at the time the grant was paid.
“How can Ernst & Young audit this grant given the clear conflict of interest?”
Ms Palaszczuk deferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet which commissioned the audit.
A department spokesman refuted the LNP’S claims.
“There was no one from Ernst & Young on the independent Business Development Fund investment panel,” he said. “Ernst & Young has advised this partner had no involvement in the Business Development Fund and has no involvement in the current audit.”
Ms Palaszczuk continued to stand by both Ms Trad and Mr Barbagallo yesterday, repeatedly telling the House she wanted to wait until the Crime and Corruption Commission had reported back before deciding whether or not any action was needed.
“If the CCC finds that there will be an investigation, the Deputy Premier will stand down. That is the standard I expect of my ministers and that is the standard I expect of this government,” she told the House.
“In relation to any issues around my chief-of-staff, he has assured me that he has done everything appropriately and has always sought integrity advice.”
The Ernst & Young audit is due to be completed by the end of the month.