LNP Fundraising Needs Inquiry

Media Release.

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the CMC’s investigation into former Newman Government Minister Ros Bates should be sufficient for the Premier to support an inquiry into his party’s fundraising activities.

 

“Today more information has come to light showing former LNP Minister Ros Bates under investigation by the Crime and Misconduct Commission for discrepancies in her fundraising returns to the Electoral Commission of Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

 

“There are unanswered questions about the change she made to a $2,200 payment for phone polling which is now reportedly suggested to be a commission for organising two fundraising events."

 

“The original payment went to a former LNP deputy state director Peter Epstein who became a senior staffer of Mr Bates after the 2012 election."

 

“If the $2,200 was not for phone polling, who received it, was it a commission, and were any other payments or gifts associated with the fundraising events also properly declared?”

 

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier regularly talked about the need for the CMC and its Parliamentary oversight committee to be more open and transparent.

 

“So he should have no problems supporting an inquiry into LNP fundraising by the all-party Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Commission,” she said.

 

“Queenslanders need to remember that it has been the Newman Government that wants to water down declaration rules for political donations — raising the declaration threshold for candidates from $2,000 to $12,400."

 

“In February the Newman Government allowed the LNP to cash in on government health cuts by running a massive fundraising event to launch its health blueprint produced at public expense."

 

“The Opposition last year exposed the LNP’s secret Regional Roundtable dinners where participants paid $11,000 for a series of six dinners with Ministers."

 

“We have also criticised the use of a senior Queensland Investment Corporation officer to front a post-Budget LNP fundraiser this year."

 

“It is the Newman Government, specifically the Attorney-General that vigorously opposed any move by the CMC to investigate political donations and fundraising."

 

“Observers will recall the strident attack on the CMC by Jarrod Bleijie at the October 2012 Budget Estimates hearings where he went out of his way to denigrate the corruption watchdog’s plans to examine fundraising and donations."

 

“The Premier is quick to set up inquiries into former Labor Party Ministers but drags his feet when it comes to his own Ministers or ex-Ministers.”