New laws on conflict ‘too weak’
THE State Government could have to go back to the drawing board after Queensland’s corruption watchdog savaged its proposed conflict-of-interest laws.
The laws would see ministers face up to two years in jail if they intentionally failed to disclose a conflict of interest or did not update their register of interests in time.
They were announced after Deputy Premier Jackie Trad failed to declare a Woolloongabba home she and her husband bought near the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project, which she managed.
In a scathing submission, the Crime and Corruption Commission says the Government’s proposal is too weak and warns the planned conflict-of-interest offence overlaps existing laws against fraud and misconduct in public office.
This comes despite the Government claiming in November that the CCC was happy with the proposed laws.
“An unintended consequence of the proposed provision may be to ‘water down’ the seriousness of conduct which may already amount to serious criminal offending, rather than strengthening the framework and obligations on ministers to avoid conflicts of interest,” the CCC wrote.
The CCC cleared Ms Trad of corrupt conduct but recommended sweeping changes including introducing a criminal offence for when a Cabinet member did not declare a conflict of interest. It also recommended that parliament create a criminal offence for when a member of Cabinet failed to comply with the Register of Members’ Interests.
The Government ignored the CCC’s calls to allow ministers to be sacked if they intentionally breached disclosure rules, the submission says.
STRAINING to understand the words that Cirque du Soleil’s resident chanteuse Sophie Guay is singing is rather pointless. And it’s beside the point, actually.
Guay, 32, who is from Montreal, does sing in English, French, and even Greek, but most of her vocals are in Cirquish, a language created by this legendary circus outfit.
Her voice pervades the action in the French-Canadian juggernaut’s latest show, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, which opened in Brisbane last night at Northshore Hamilton, where the Grand Chapiteau (big top) is up until February 23.
Set in a 19th-century steampunk fantasy world inspired by Jules Verne and imagined by writer and director Michel Laprise, it features a cast of 47 artists from 17 countries (including five Aussies, two of whom are Brisbane acrobats Nathan Dennis and Fletcher Donohue) and a collection of otherworldly characters made up of world-class gymnasts, acrobats, contortionists, hand puppeteers, yoyo wizards, clowns, actors and musicians.
Some of the acts are beyond death defying, such as the gobsmacking Russian Cradle by acrobats Ekaterina Evdokimova and Andrei Kalesnikau, or Anne Weissbecker’s aerial antics on a bicycle.
by Cirque du Soleil, until February 23 at Northshore Hamilton. Tickets from $80; 1800 036 685 or cirquedusoleil.com/kurios