Election probe a ‘fake’

Gold Coast MP launches stinging attack on CCC investigation

GOLD Coast MP Ray Stevens has launched a stinging attack on the inquiry into the Gold Coast City Council elections, saying it was aimed at stopping developer donations.

In a speech to State Parliament, the Mermaid Beach LNP MP branded the Crime and Corruption Commission probe a “false inquiry”.

“I had, let us call it, a minor supporting role in the witness stand in the previous inquiry that the Crime and Corruption Commission held into the Gold Coast City Council election. That was an absolute waste of time as well,” Mr Stevens told the Parliament.

“When this Labor Government comes in here and says this inquiry is about transparency and accountability, that does not apply to unions and Labor candidates.”

Mr Stevens tabled several documents, including one showing independent mayoral candidate Penny Toland received $38,000 in donations from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. “Here is the disclosure of Penny Toland, former Labor candidate for Broadwater on the Gold Coast. Surprise. No disclosure of $38,000 from the unions,” Mr Stevens said.

Ms Toland told the Bulletin her donations from three unions were disclosed, including $10,000 which was sent back.

The claims by Mr Stevens related to a third-party disclosure from a union which was offering state-wide support for candidates and did not specifically provide material for her campaign, she said.

In its probe on the March 2016 poll, the CCC is trying to determine if candidates operated as a political group, whether funding was transparent and disclosed correctly and if conflicts of interest occurred after donations from developers.

“Councillors tell me there is another candidate who was asked by the CCC to do an interview, refused point blank ... and was not subpoenaed to appear at the inquiry,” Mr Stevens said.

“This inquiry is all about laying the turf so that this government can bring in some new legislation to the House that bans developer funding of the LNP in particular and all council candidates,” he said.

Mr Stevens said the CCC had called Mayor Tom Tate to give evidence but failed to call Ms Toland as a witness. “Why was she not a witness when she did not disclose anything?

“I cannot believe this witchhunt into transparency on the Gold Coast is being used by this holier-than-thou Labor Government trumpeting openness and accountability when their own members do not get called as witnesses.”

Mr Stevens predicted unions would receive exemption from donations in future laws.

But he admitted changing the disclosure date for donations from 15 weeks after the poll to a real-time electronic register would provide consistency to voters.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said voters would have access to information about donations within seven business days of transactions.